ビジネス英会話：コンサルティング会社の価値

マッキンゼーやBCGなどの戦略系ファーム、PwCやデロイトトーマツのような会計事務所系ファーム、アクセンチュアやアビームなどのIT系ファーム。色々なコンサルティングファームがあります。が、なぜ、優秀な人材を採用するのではなく、コンサルティングファームに頼るのでしょうか？優秀な人材を採用しても、企業が「持て余してしまう」のはあると思いますね。例えば、年功序列型企業では、20～30代前半の若いけど優秀な社員をプロジェクトリーダーに任命すると、おっさんから嫉妬が・・・だからコンサルティングファームに頼る・・・とか。

◆英単語、表現
condense : 〔気体や蒸気を〕液化する、凝結する、〔文章などを〕短くする、要約する、簡略化する

A: Do you think it's better for companies to hire excellent human resources in-house rather than hiring consulting firms?

B: It may seem like a good idea, but there are many advantages that clients can enjoy when they work with consultants. Consultants are professionals who solve corporate problems and they bring expertise, speed, and flexibility to the project.

A: But doesn't it cost a lot to hire consultants?

B: That's true, consulting fees are higher than regular salaries, but the value of consulting is often condensed in projects that require results in a short period of time. When requesting a consultant, all you have to do is talk to the person in charge, and a hearing will be held immediately. Most of the personnel are prepared by the consultant side, so it is very speedy until the start. Additionally, consultants can be used only when needed, and they can provide highly specialized personnel who are difficult to find and may not be needed in-house once the project is over.

A: I see. So, what is the biggest reason why companies ask for consulting?

B: The goal is to produce results while minimizing risk as much as possible. In today's rapidly changing society, companies need to take various measures, and there are areas that they are not good at or unknown. Consultants can provide specialized knowledge and expertise, reduce the risk of failure, and help companies produce results.