2011 Independent Consultant Survey Summary Report

The purpose of our annual survey is to take the pulse of the consulting marketplace and gather firsthand insights from our network of experienced independent consultants. This seasoned bench of talent represents deep functional expertise across all major business verticals. The survey allows us to tap into the collective wisdom and experience of our consultants, while getting a snapshot on the vitality of the overall market for consulting. In particular the survey uncovers the business trends of independent consultants and the clients they serve.

2012 Consultant Survey Summary Report

Job creation is the central issue in 2012 and the upcoming presidential election. But like a lot of political issues, the facts lie below the headlines and rhetoric.

The overall unemployment rate remains unacceptably high, but in contrast, for managerial and professional positions the rate is very low. The definition of work itself is changing, with more people than ever working outside of the traditional FTE structure. It is not uncommon for a Fortune 500 company to draw as much as 20 percent of its professional workforce from what we term the “flexible workforce”.

In the midst of this dynamic market, we conducted our annual M Squared Consulting survey to get the perspectives of independent consultants about the economy and the consulting environment.

2012 Outlook on the New World of Work

Job creation will be the central issue of 2012 and the upcoming presidential election. But like a lot of political issues, the facts lie far below the headlines and rhetoric. Overall, unemployment is unacceptably high, but different groups or classes of workers are faring differently.

In contrast to the highly publicized 9.0 percent U.S. unemployment figure, the unemployment rate for "management, professional, and related occupations" is just 4.4 percent. It’s no wonder many hiring managers can’t fill higher-level, strategic, management and technology positions. The data suggests there aren’t enough applicants eligible, available or willing to fill those jobs.

Cloud Consulting™ - Applying Leading IT Practices to Human Capital

Cloud computing is changing the business IT landscape through its ability to provide scalable computing resources without the traditional technology overhead. Now, the same characteristics powering this charge—virtualization, integration, and value-added management—are poised to alter the face of business consulting. This cloud consulting white paper highlights the parallels between cloud computing and cloud consulting, as pioneered by M Squared Consulting, and explains how the new model is an effective alternative to the expensive, cumbersome, and outdated traditional consulting model.

Creating Your Flexible Workforce Strategy in the New World of Work

Uncertain times demand flexible strategies throughout an organization. But human capital management has traditionally been the antithesis of flexibility – with limited, rigid, and generally ineffective choices. Fortunately, there is a better way.

Today, a significant and growing number of professionals are choosing to work independent of corporate or consulting firm handcuffs. They see a better professional path – one that provides greater challenge, variety, growth, and indeed flexibility. And they are in great demand!

Financial services company leverages product launch expertise

Financial services company merges online and teller banking for better customer experience

Financial services firm brings in targeted expertise after merger

Financial services firm uses robust reporting to manage IT integration

Financial services merger aligns sales teams and partners for strategic selling opportunity

Flexible Business Strategies in a Flat World

Leading an enterprise in today’s flat and fast world is a white-knuckle experience for any leader. The world is connected like never before, filled with smart devices and juiced by social media; all news travels fast and loud. Knowledge and uncertainty are thus amplified, and as a result leadership must be both clear and adaptive.

The Recession of 2008 taught us how fast things can happen. While the indicators were building for years, the crash seemed to happen almost overnight. Since 2008, the recovery has taught us how small the world is. Everything is interconnected, business is global, and competition can come from anywhere. Consequently, enterprises today – and in particular their talent and human resource strategies – must be flat, fast and flexible.

Health plan considers re-entry into group medicare HMO market

Internet banking competitive analysis project

Operational Excellence

With the speed of business today, a wasted moment can represent a missed opportunity to grow sales or mitigate risk. A portfolio manager hears about a stock freefall on the car radio and responds before getting to the office. A bank director immediately adjusts lending rates following an announcement by the Federal Reserve Board.

In situations like these, managers must quickly evaluate a situation and respond in accordance with established company protocol. Consequently, the need for well-defined processes and operational excellence is more vital than ever.

Staffing Industry Analysts - Wisdom of the Crowd

Craig Johnson of Staffing Industry Analysts posted an interesting trend story titled “Wisdom of the Crowd” that details emerging factors likely to affect the flexible workforce in 2012. The article makes mention of the annual M Squared Consulting survey.

Technology leader transforms service and support organization to enhance customer service

The New Innovators

True innovation needs to start with a clean slate. It needs to be unencumbered by the “way we’ve always done it” thought process. And it needs to plow new ground and combine varied insights from a wide range of experiences.
As the economy continues to gain steam, more companies will look to the high-end of the flexible workforce as their bridge to better times.

The Rising Risk of Misclassification

As more companies take advantage of the benefits of the flexible workforce model, they must remain in compliance with changing legal regulations.

Use of the flexible workforce – which today includes millions of highly-skilled independent consultants – is increasing rapidly across Corporate America. It now accounts for an average 22 percent1 of employment and 30 percent2 of procurement spend at large organizations. Companies seeking to grow and innovate use top-tier interim talent to get important projects done and save on the cost of full-time labor. And experienced independent consultants get the balance, challenge, and variety they seek from the workplace. It’s a win-win scenario.

University leverages stop-gap training to succeed with new finance system

We Wrote the Book on It!

In this groundbreaking treatise, M Squared Chairman and Co-Founder Marion McGovern shares how independent consultants, free agents, and interim managers are transforming the world of work. Learn more and order her book, “A New Brand of Expertise: How Independent Consultants, Free Agents, and Interim Managers are Transforming the World of Work” at www.amazon.com.