Magic Consultants

Is there anything or anyone who can challenge the power of the consultants?

Adam Shaw continues his investigation into the consultancy industry.

Can they survive the challenges ahead – attract top talent, resist calls for regulation and even pressure from the Pope, trying to guide them to be more socially conscious.

In times of new crisis, government and business reach straight for consultants' expertise; like death and taxes will they be with us forever?

With contributions from: Tamzen Isacsson, CEO of the Management Consultancies Association, Andrew Sturdy, Professor in Management at The University of Bristol, Dr Chris McKenna, Reader in Business History and Strategy at the Said Business School, Matthias Kipping, Professor of Policy at the Schulich School of Business, authors Rosie Collington and Eric Edstrom.

Producer: Sarah Bowen

Series researcher: Shiler Mahmoudi

Can consultants remain relevant and attractive in a new socially conscious world?

Adam Shaw peeks behind the curtain of the management consultancy industry.

Pressure on the consulting industry is coming from all directions. Gen Z want purpose in their careers and even the Pope is telling them they must be more socially conscious.

[LISTEN NOW]

Worth hundreds of billions of pounds, consultants stretch across almost every industry, government department and international border.

Since the pandemic there's been an unprecedented demand for their services and many believe our future is determined by what they think and do. Yet little is known about these largely hidden influencers. They are magnetic and mesmerizing yet, to many of us, shrouded in mystery.

Adam asks who are these wizards, what do they do and how much do they influence our lives.

On the one hand, they're talked of as genius solvers of the world's greatest problems and masters of the machinery of management. On other, some think of them in more shadowy terms, whispering their guidance into the ears of the rich and powerful. Adam sets off with missionary zeal to detangle two very different stereotypes.

Across the series he hunts for the first ever consultant, finds out how they shape our language and politics and discovers how they bounce back from appalling scandals. He joins a consultancy fair to meet aspirant consultants, hears stories from the glass towers of late nights and rewards, explores FOMO and addition, turnarounds and triumphs.

In this first episode he asks what value do consultants add and why are they seemingly opaque. And he pulls out his wand and performs a rather impressive magic trick of his own.

With contributions from: Tamzen Isacsson, CEO of the Management Consultancies Association, Andrew Sturdy, Professor in Management at The University of Bristol, Dr Chris McKenna, Reader in Business History and Strategy at the Said Business School, Rosie Collington, co-author of The Big Con, author Eric Edstrom and broadcaster Paddy O'Connell.

Producer: Sarah Bowen

Adam Shaw peeks behind the curtain of the $billion management consultancy industry.

Adam Shaw peeks behind the curtain of the management consultancy industry.

Consultants miraculously turn around businesses and conjure up ideas. Adam Shaw asks why is this $billion industry so mysterious and should we really be in awe of their wizardry?

[LISTEN NOW]

Worth hundreds of billions of pounds, consultants stretch across almost every industry, government department and international border.

Since the pandemic there's been an unprecedented demand for their services and many believe our future is determined by what they think and do. Yet little is known about these largely hidden influencers. They are magnetic and mesmerizing yet, to many of us, shrouded in mystery.

Adam asks who are these wizards, what do they do and how much do they influence our lives.

On the one hand, they're talked of as genius solvers of the world's greatest problems and masters of the machinery of management. On other, some think of them in more shadowy terms, whispering their guidance into the ears of the rich and powerful. Adam sets off with missionary zeal to detangle two very different stereotypes.

Across the series he hunts for the first ever consultant, finds out how they shape our language and politics and discovers how they bounce back from appalling scandals. He joins a consultancy fair to meet aspirant consultants, hears stories from the glass towers of late nights and rewards, explores FOMO and addition, turnarounds and triumphs.

In this episode he charts the history of the industry from its early pioneers: scientific time managers on the factory floors of industrializing America, in pursuit of greater efficiency. He hears how the industry evolved on both sides of the Atlantic and how governments and businesses alike began relying on them for advice.

With contributions from: Andrew Sturdy, Professor in Management at The University of Bristol, Dr Chris McKenna, Reader in Business History and Strategy at the Said Business School, public services consultant and historian Dr Antonio Weiss and Rosie Collington, co-author of The Big Con,

Produced by Neil McCarthy

The consultancy industry is worth billions. Should we be in awe of their wizardry?

Adam Shaw peeks behind the curtain of the management consultancy industry.

Consultants miraculously turn around businesses and conjure up ideas. Adam Shaw charts the rise and rise of the industry from the factory floor to the multi-national boardroom

[LISTEN NOW]

Worth hundreds of billions of pounds, consultants stretch across almost every industry, government department and international border.

Since the pandemic there's been an unprecedented demand for their services and many believe our future is determined by what they think and do. Yet little is known about these largely hidden influencers. They are magnetic and mesmerizing yet, to many of us, shrouded in mystery.

Adam asks who are these wizards, what do they do and how much do they influence our lives.

On the one hand, they're talked of as genius solvers of the world's greatest problems and masters of the machinery of management. On other, some think of them in more shadowy terms, whispering their guidance into the ears of the rich and powerful. Adam sets off with missionary zeal to detangle two very different stereotypes.

Across the series he hunts for the first ever consultant, finds out how they shape our language and politics and discovers how they bounce back from appalling scandals. He joins a consultancy fair to meet aspirant consultants, hears stories from the glass towers of late nights and rewards, explores FOMO and addition, turnarounds and triumphs.

In this episode Adam takes a close look at how the industry has shaped the world around us. He sees how consultants have been involved in most key stages in the development of capitalism and how the phraseology of 'Corporate Culture' has found its way into everyday language.

Producer Neil McCarthy

The consultancy industry is worth billions. Should we be in awe of their wizardry?

Adam Shaw peeks behind the curtain of the management consultancy industry.

Consultants miraculously turn around businesses and conjure up ideas. Adam Shaw examines how they have shaped the world around us and how their phrases have entered common language

[LISTEN NOW]

What is the relationship between governments and consultants?

Adam Shaw continues his recce behind the curtain of the billion dollar management consultancy industry. In this episode he finds out when consultants and the state started working so closely together, and asks if that partnership has become a little too tight.

Be it getting man to the moon or rolling out the Covid vaccine, consultants have worked closely and successfully together. Bringing in expertise at the right time can be vital and cost effective. But how justified is the criticism that consultants are hollowing out the civil service, are they worth the billions we spend on them and are they ever conflicts of interest?

Adam sees a revolving door of consultants, business and government spin before his eyes; he traces the fine line between implementing policy and shaping it and asks if we are living in a consultantocracy, at risk of the industry undermining our democracy.

With contributions from: Tamzen Isacsson, CEO of the Management Consultancies Association, Matthias Kipping, Professor of Policy at the Schulich School of Business, Andrew Sturdy, Professor in Management at The University of Bristol, Chris McKenna, Reader in Business History and Strategy at the Said Business School, historian Antonio Weiss and authors Rosie Collington and Eric Edstrom.

Producer: Sarah Bowen

How close is the relationship between management consultants and the government?

Adam Shaw peeks behind the curtain of the management consultancy industry.

Where does the billions of pounds the government spends on consultants go and what are the pros and cons of this increasingly close relationship?

[LISTEN NOW]

Adam Shaw continues his investigation into the consultancy industry.

Can they survive the challenges ahead - attract top talent, resist calls for regulation and even pressure from the Pope, trying to guide them to be more socially conscious.

In times of new crisis, government and business reach straight for consultants' expertise; like death and taxes will they be with us forever?

With contributions from: Tamzen Isacsson, CEO of the Management Consultancies Association, Andrew Sturdy, Professor in Management at The University of Bristol, Dr Chris McKenna, Reader in Business History and Strategy at the Said Business School, Matthias Kipping, Professor of Policy at the Schulich School of Business, authors Rosie Collington and Eric Edstrom.

Producer: Sarah Bowen

Series researcher: Shiler Mahmoudi

Can consultants remain relevant and attractive in a new socially conscious world?