1. Definition
Consulting is a comprehensive research and development through the knowledge and experience stored in people's minds and the comprehensive processing of various information materials. At first, consultation was used as a consultant, staff officer and external brain for decision makers. With the development of economy, consultation, as a social activity with personnel and services, has developed in the military, political and economic fields and has become an important means of social, economic and political activities and a commercial activity.
classify
With the development of consulting industry and the deepening of social understanding of consulting industry, there are many classification standards of consulting industry, which are horizontally divided into: strategic consulting, financial consulting, marketing consulting, human resources consulting, corporate culture consulting, management consulting, management information consulting, consulting services and so on. According to the vertical classification, including information consulting, management consulting and strategic consulting.
3. Characteristics
The characteristics of consulting industry include professionalism, exclusiveness and cooperation.
(1) Professionalism is the basis for the development of consulting industry. Consulting industry originated from providing information, management and strategic services to customers. The important reason why customers rely on consulting companies is the lack of professionals. It can be said that the professionalism of the consulting industry has attracted customers. Therefore, the advice or service process provided by the consulting company needs to reflect professional ability;
(2) Exclusivity is another feature of consulting industry. According to the workflow of consulting companies, consulting companies should first make clear the needs of customers and put forward objective and effective consulting plans according to their needs, while general consulting companies need to sign confidentiality agreements with customers and are not allowed to share customers' information and plans with others. Consulting plans need to be tailored according to customers' needs. Therefore, the consulting scheme provided by the consulting company is highly targeted and exclusive;
(3) Cooperation is determined by the nature of consulting industry. In the process of providing consulting solutions, consulting companies need to constantly discuss with customers, cooperate with customers and trust each other on the basis of making customers clear about the views of consulting companies, so as to make consulting solutions reach the best level.
Yan Guan Tianxia released China Management Consulting Market Analysis Report 2019-Market Monitoring and Development Trend Research.
Second, the development and present situation of consulting industry in China
1. Development of consulting industry in China
The earliest consulting company in the world originated in the United States, when McKinsey established McKinsey Consulting Company. Subsequently, with the development of enterprises, the consulting industry around the world began to develop. Among them, developed countries have more demand for consulting because of their developed economies, and the development of consulting industry is particularly prominent. After the reform and opening up in China, the consulting industry began to develop, which can be roughly divided into four stages: