McKinsey, BCG & Co.: Do We Still Need Consultants? And if so: Why?

We asked 1,049 executives this question – board members, budget holders, and project leaders who spend millions on consulting every year. The result? It surprised us. Not the substance, but the unanimity of the responses. Nine out of ten – or to be precise, 934 out of 1,046 – expect one thing above all from their consultants: help in stabilizing their competitiveness. In the somewhat dramatic words of a seasoned MDAX board member: “We’re fighting in the global ring, and politics has tied our hands behind our backs. Now it all depends on having the right team in our corner.” There’s no doubt: German industry is facing its toughest test in decades. High energy costs, excessive regulation, geopolitical uncertainty – all are eroding competitiveness. And politics is standing still. But what can consultants actually contribute in this situation? And where are they themselves under pressure in times of Palantir and OpenAI? In conversation with Eva Buchhorn of manager magazin, we discuss these and other questions. An interview about orientation, substance, and the courage to take responsibility.