Perceptions of the dimensions of work success of management consultants in South Africa

Abstract

The primary goal of this study was to contruct an instrument with which to identify the critical dimensions of the job of management consultants. A secondary goal was to determine whether there are any statistically significant differences in the perceptions of subgroups of the sample. The literature was studied and 53 competencies were found. Based on these competencies, the "Management Consulting Competency Questionnaire" (MCCQ) was developed,comprising two sets of items. The first set concerns the importance of various competencies, and the second set relates to the frequency with which the competencies are used. The items were judged by 165 management consultants. Factor analyses were carried out and the resulting factors were further subjected to an interbattery factor analysis. Three factors were identified, namely consulting skills, consultant personality and client service skills. The subgroups were compared using Hotelling's T2 test and MANOVA. Statistically significant differences were found in the perceptions of management consultants for consulting level and years experience.

Opsomming
Die hoofdoelstelling van die studie was om 'n meetinstrument te konstrueer waarmee die kritieke dimensies van die werk van bestuurskonsultante geidentifiseer kan word. 'n Sekondêre doelstelling was om vas te stel of daar statistics beduidende verskille is tussen die persepsies van subgroepe van die steekproef. Die literatuur is deurskou en 53 bevoegdhede is gevind. Op grond van die bevoegdhede is die "Management Consulting Competency Questionnaire" (MCCQ) ontwikkel, bestaande uit twee stelle items. Die eerste stel het betrekking op die belangrikheid van verskeie bevoegdhede, en die tweede stel op die frekwensie waarmee daardie bevoegdhede gebruik word. Die items is deur 165 bestuurskonsultante beoordeel. Faktorontledings is uitgevoer en die resulterende faktore is verder aan 'n interbatteryfaktorontleding onderwerp. Drie faktore is onttrek, naamlik konsultasievaardighede, konsultantpersoonlikheid en kliëntediensvaardighede. Die subgroepe is vergelyk deur Hotelling se T2 toets en MANOVA te gebruik. Statisties beduidende verskille is gevind in die persepsies van bestuurskonsultante ten opsigte van konsultantvlak en jare ervaring.