AI meets Strategic Management Consulting

: the effects of AI on the business model & value proposition of SMC firms

Abstract

The Strategic Management Consulting (SMC) industry is one of the more developed segments within the professional services industry. Artificial intelligence (AI) has already been introduced in some consultancies, but its application is still very limited and the implications of this technology from a strategic standpoint are still to be fully determined.The aim of this study is to analyse to what extent the business model and value proposition of SMC firms will be impacted once AI has been further introduced into its operations.Disruptive technologies such as big data and big data analytics will help consultants go through structured and unstructured data and therefore the services that consultancies will be offering will have a strong component of data analysis. The company can not only sell advice of consultants but also tools for clients to introduce in their companies.The implementation of AI will allow SMC firms to lower the direct cost of projects and small and medium size companies’ will be able to access consulting services since the price of the services is lower and finally, a shift in the required qualifications of consultants will be seen as data capabilities will be a requirement to be a consultant.

Date of Award	28 Jan 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Peter V. Rajsingh (Supervisor)