Who is a consultant?

A consultant is the one who has expertise in a

specific area or areas and offers unbiased
opinion and advice for a fee. The opinion or
advice is rendered exclusively in the interest of
the client and can cover review, analysis,
recommendation and implementation.
What are the reasons for becoming consultants?

Basically, a consultant is a person with marketable

skill, a perceptive mind, a need for independence and
challenge, an ability to communicate with others and
a wish to be an agent of positive change. In general,
the people who go into consulting include, people
who want a stimulating, dynamic growing career that
satisfies the need for personal development.
Independent accounting firm’s role in MAS:

“To provide advice and technical assistance which

should provide for client participation in the
analytical approach and process. Specifying this as
the proper role recognizes both the appropriate place
of MAS and the realities of practice. This is the only
basis on which the work should permit it to be done.”
Types of MAS Engagements

Management engagement services are useful to

classify according to six dimensions:
a. Nature of the problem
b. Service delivery area
c. Phase(s) of the analytic process
d. Techniques and methodologies applied
e. Industry (or nature of organization) to which the
client belongs.
f. Geographical areas where the engagement take
place.
NATURE OF THE PROBLEM:

a. Corrective
b. Progressive
c. Opportunistic

Corrective problem involves a situation in which conditions

have worsened. It usually arises suddenly and demands urgent
action. Defying the problem is often much less difficult than
determining the preferable course of action.
Progressive Problem involves an existing situation that can be
improved. An example is an existing automated system with
many loopholes but still can be improved by means of system
enhancement.

Opportunistic Problem involves a situation in which a future

opportunity exists. Typical example is the excessive idle funds
that don’t earn interest.
SERVICE DELIVERY AREA:
The functions or activities in which the problem situation
exists. These maybe classified into different ways:
1. General Management 7. Research and Development
2. Manufacturing 8. Packaging
3. Personnel 9. Administration
4. Finance and Accounting 10. International operations
5. Marketing
6. Procurement
APPLICATION OF THE ANALYTIC PROCESS in a consulting
engagement includes:

a. Identifying the objectives

b. Defining the problem
c. Finding out the facts
d. Developing the solution
e. Implementing the solution
TECHNIQUES AND METHODOLOGIES APPLIED

Most engagements can be aided by technical models or

methodologies. If the client wants a complete time and motion
study to streamline operations, the management consultant
may generate volume of transactions report to determine the
capacity of each employee on a particular day. Any excess on
the defined capacity would mean additional manpower.