ABSTRACT

This title was first published in 2002: The history of management consulting in Britain is a subject that has received little attention in the past in terms of research or publication. This work redresses the gap in the knowledge base of business and management history, presenting the historical situation in the context of management consulting. Identifying the beginnings of consultancy services in the mid-nineteenth century, Ferguson charts its progression through a series of time frames that span the twentieth century. Utilizing a series of consistent themes, such as service delivery forms and training, which can be compared and contrasted across time, the book provides not only a history of management consultancy services, but also shows how the take-up and form of services was heavily dependent upon the prevailing attitudes within business to the role of management. The thoroughly researched and well-presented arguments in this book will greatly add to our knowledge of British management during the twentieth century.

chapter Chapter 1|18 pages

The Background to Management Consulting

chapter Chapter 2|22 pages

The Pioneers, 1869-1925

chapter Chapter 3|31 pages

The Beginning of Organised Consultancy, 1926-1933

chapter Chapter 4|27 pages

New Directions, 1929-1939

chapter Chapter 5|22 pages

Wartime Practices, 1939-1945

chapter Chapter 6|28 pages

Improving Productive Performance

chapter Chapter 8|32 pages

From Efficiency Engineering to Strategy

chapter Chapter 9|31 pages

Information Technology and Management Consulting

chapter Chapter 11|14 pages

A Summary and Review of Management Consultancy