This survey is part of the Management Consultancies Association Consulting Excellence initiative. It is aimed at users of consulting. It is unique in scope in that it is open to all buyers of consulting, whatever their size, sector, and irrespective of which consulting firms they use. It will help the consulting industry test its adherence to the tenets of the new Consulting Excellence initiative, especially those concerning client service and value.

Management consulting is a critical professional service and great British export. Consultants advise all sectors of the economy. They help clients achieve greater efficiency, cope with disruption, harness the power of digital, and grow. Consulting Excellence represents the commitment of MCA members to uphold the highest standards of ethics and service, to deliver top quality consulting advice and support. 

This is your opportunity to help shape the future of a service you use. You can feedback what you value in consulting. You can let us know where you think the industry is being successful. You can also raise concerns.

The findings will be set out in a public report. However, the anonymity of all participants will be scrupulously protected. No participant or their firm will be singled out in the findings or be otherwise identifiable.

If you would like to receive a copy of the report on publication, please include your name and email address in the optional space at the start of the questionnaire. This will not be otherwise disclosed or used for any other purpose.

The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.

The survey will close on 14th July at 17:00. 

If you have any questions or queries, do please get in contact with luke.cummings@mca.org.uk
About you

Question Title

* 1. Please enter your name (optional)

Question Title

* 2. Please provide your contact email address (optional)

Question Title

* 3. Please provide the name of your organisation

Question Title

* 4. If relevant, which division of your organisation do you work in?

Question Title

* 5. What is your role within your organisation?

Question Title

* 6. Which sector does your organisation primarily operate in?

You and your organisation's use of consulting

Question Title

* 7. Your primary relationship to the use of management consulting. Select the response most applicable to you. Do you:

Question Title

* 8. Your organisation’s use of consulting. Estimating if necessary, please choose the scale of annual consulting spend most applicable to your organisation (or part of it):

Consulting Excellence
In Consulting Excellence, MCA members have created a scheme that celebrates consulting’s value and also commits them to the highest standards of ethical behaviour, client service, and professionalism. Available only to MCA members, Consulting Excellence is the new badge of quality in consulting. It will help clients make better buying decisions. It will promote collaboration between clients and consultants to achieve great outcomes. And it will help MCA firms recruit and retain the best people.

Defining Consulting Excellence.

The Nine Principles of Consulting Excellence.

Question Title

* 9. Have you heard of Consulting Excellence?

Question Title

* 10. What rationale do you mainly use to identify potential consulting suppliers? Please select up to 3

Question Title

* 11. Against what criteria do you then mainly appoint consultants? Please select up to 3

Consulting Excellence is intended to provide quality assurance for clients. It aims to ensure that clients can select Consulting Excellence firms with confidence.

Question Title

* 12. How far could an authoritative and widely recognised hallmark of consulting quality influence your buying behaviour?

Consulting Excellence Pillar 1. Ethical Behaviour

Consulting Excellence firms work with clients, partners, employees and other stakeholders in an ethical way. This means:

1. We are responsible and good citizens.
2. We conduct our business ethically.
3. We foster an ethical culture.

Question Title

* 13. On average, please rate the consulting firms you have employed in their commitment to ethical behaviour.

Question Title

* 14. What positively distinguishes the consulting firms you have employed in their commitment to ethical behaviour? Please select up to 3

Question Title

* 15. Where would you like to see the consulting firms you have employed improve in their commitment to ethical behaviour? Please select up to 3

Consulting Excellence Pillar 2. Client Service and Value

Consulting Excellence firms promote the highest standards of client service and value. This means:

4. We provide excellent consulting services which deliver the outcomes clients seek and need.
5. We are transparent with clients and respond to their concerns.
6. We always strive to improve the value we can deliver to our clients.

Question Title

* 16. On average, please rate the consulting firms you have employed rate on client service and value.

Question Title

* 17. What positively distinguishes the consulting firms you have employed in their commitment to client service and value? Please select up to 3

Question Title

* 18. Where would you like to see the consulting firms you have employed improve in their commitment to client service and value? Please select up to 3

Consulting Excellence Pillar 3. Professional Development

Consulting Excellence firms develop the capabilities of their consultants, provide career development opportunities and support the welfare of all their employees. This means:

7. We undertake training and professional development planning each year.
8. We promote strong core consulting capabilities and specialisms in our consultants and teams.
9. We support our employees’ career progression, professional development and welfare

Question Title

* 19. On average, please rate how well trained and otherwise prepared the employees of consulting firms you have employed are for meeting your needs were.

Question Title

* 20. What most distinguishes the staff of the consulting firms you have employed? Select up to 3

Question Title

* 21. In which areas would you most like to see the staff in the consulting firms you have employed improve? Select up to 3

Additional comment

Question Title

* 22. If you have any other feedback about consulting or otherwise relevant to this survey, please use the space below

( Privacy & Cookie Notice