ABSTRACT
The use of information technology (IT) as a primary enabler of process innovation within organizations paved the path for the inclusion of IT consulting services as a management consulting specialization. From its modest origins as a value-added service offering of relative inconsequence in large management consulting projects, IT consulting swiftly became the largest segment of the management consulting services industry, catalyzed by such factors as the anticipation of system failures associated with Y2K and the adoption of enterprise resource planning systems. IT consulting firms provide a unique blend of technology services, while employing innovative delivery mechanisms. Over the years, the industry has undergone many changes in response to legislative and market modulation. The emergence of offshore and near-shore outsourcing as a viable alternative to exorbitant project budgets and declining corporate IT spending, while controversial, appears to be a mainstay of the industry today. The services offered by IT consulting firms will continue to be both relevant and critical for the foreseeable future.
