Introduction

The world of consultancy is vast—not only in its size, but also in its reach and scope. Virtually every aspect of business—from strategy, to marketing, to finance, to operations—has a cadre of consultants eager and ready to provide their services to firms. The emerging sustainability consulting firms are nipping at the heels of the established giants who are scrambling to find their way in the emergent field of sustainability. First, they can show clients how to distinguish the cosmetic squeaks from the important ones. Then, of equal importance, they need to coach their clients into dealing with the important squeaks, even though other high-urgency/low-importance matters are crying for attention. It is only by dealing with the high-importance/low-urgency matters that true value is created. Dealing with them in a timely manner will prevent them becoming a high-importance/high-urgency crisis. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.