---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People believe that management…"
description: "\"People believe that management consultants are mostly useless parasites. Up until about 1980 it was consultants more than anyone else who came up with ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/walter-kiechel-38780_believe_people-believe-that-management-consultan_196242.png"
---

#  People believe that management consultants are mostly…

![“People believe that management consultants are mostly useless parasites. Up until about 1980 it was consultants more than anyone else who came up with the critical concepts behind strategy. The history of strategy suggests there are lots of things consultants can do for a company that the company…” quote by Walter Kiechel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/walter-kiechel-38780_believe_people-believe-that-management-consultan_196242.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/walter-kiechel-38780_believe_people-believe-that-management-consultan_196242.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/walter-kiechel-38780_believe_people-believe-that-management-consultan_196242.png)

> “People believe that management consultants are mostly useless parasites. Up until about 1980 it was consultants more than anyone else who came up with the critical concepts behind strategy. The history of strategy suggests there are lots of things consultants can do for a company that the company can't typically do for itself.”

[Walter Kiechel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kiechel/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Consultants historically shaped strategy, challenging the view they are merely parasites.

**In simple terms:** Consultants add unique strategic value.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the strategic contributions of consultants.

Themes

strategy consulting business history

Mood

analytical critical

Type

informative historical

When to use this quote

- corporate planning
- business transformation
- leadership development

Key Concepts

economics innovation organizational design

Questions to Reflect On

- What value do consultants truly bring today?
- How can companies balance internal and external expertise?

A Different Perspective

Modern consulting may be limited by conflict of interest.

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