Free Law Consulting

While the book sounds interesting, I resent the fact that I was spammed by the author with an unsolicited bulk email plugging his book. My recommendation is not to support people who spam.
Rating: 1 / 5

I enjoyed this book. Its a great blow-by-blow story of how business works (or doesn’t) seen by an insider. Romaine sees the problem as that of consultants with their own agenda huntng for follow on business, lining their pockets but eventually failing to deliver what they pronmised at the expense of their clients. He’s right of course, but he never seems to ask the next question – how is this allowed to happen? He thinks that better control of consultants is the solution. I’m not sure. I wonder if this isn’t just a bandaid on a broken leg.

I question whether the issue isn’t that the corporations he describes aren’t fundamentally disfunctional, driven by ego and riven by infighting. Why did NationsBank need to be the biggest? Did the hunt for growth from takeovers not just hide their technology and management problems for longer? From the book it appears that taking over other banks did not deliver the synergies and cost savings promised through technology, so they cut staff (and often customers left too as service worsened) to make savings committed and quickly moved on to the next takeover. It seems like pyramid selling – its great whilst it lasts, but cannot go on for ever.

Unless corporations can deliver new functions, better service or other breakthoughs, then new entrants or others in the business are bound to eventually win out in the marketplace. Corporations can grow stodgy, hidebound and stuffed with too many managers at the top and lose sight of customers and their business. Takeovers, downsizing, outsourcing and consultants only put off the day of reckoning. Its honest management with an unrelenting customer focus that organisations need. Using and controlling consultants better is but a small part of it.

Thanks for a good read Steve, but eventually I was disappointed that you never dug to the bottom of the issues.
Rating: 4 / 5

As an executive who has to deal with consultants on a regular basis, I found this to be a refreshing look at the industry. The helpful hints at the end of each chapter are a godsend! The author is obviously plugged in, and now I know the secret handshake as well.
Rating: 5 / 5