Project Abstract

Management consultancy firms play a crucial role in providing expert advice and guidance to organizations in various sectors. This research project aims to explore the purpose and use of management consultancy firms in Nigeria, with a focus on a case study of Onitsha South L.G.A in Anambra State. The study will investigate the specific roles that management consultancy firms play in assisting businesses and government agencies in Onitsha South L.G.A. It will explore the reasons why organizations in this region seek the services of consultancy firms and the benefits they derive from such engagements. Additionally, the research will examine the challenges faced by management consultancy firms operating in this area and how they overcome these challenges to deliver value to their clients. Through a combination of qualitative research methods such as interviews and surveys, this project will gather data from both management consultancy firms and their clients in Onitsha South L.G.A. By analyzing the perspectives of both service providers and recipients, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of management consultancy in this region. The findings of this research are expected to shed light on the effectiveness of management consultancy firms in driving organizational performance and facilitating growth in Onitsha South L.G.A. By identifying the specific areas where consultancy services add the most value and the factors that contribute to successful consultancy engagements, this study will provide valuable insights for businesses and government agencies seeking to leverage the expertise of management consultancy firms. Furthermore, the research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on management consultancy in Nigeria, particularly in the context of a specific geographical location like Onitsha South L.G.A. By documenting the experiences and perspectives of both consultants and their clients in this region, the study will offer a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the consultancy industry. Overall, this research project aims to deepen our understanding of the purpose and use of management consultancy firms in Nigeria, using Onitsha South L.G.A in Anambra State as a case study. By examining the roles, benefits, challenges, and effectiveness of consultancy services in this specific context, the study seeks to provide valuable insights for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers interested in enhancing the impact of management consultancy in the region and beyond.

Project Overview

1.1           BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nigeria has a complex society with different types of organization. Every organization encounters one or more problems that hamper the organization in achieving its set objective and goals. These problems ranges from financial availability human resources shortages monitoring competitor’s strategies raw materials shortages lack knowledge of how to manage the organization efficiently and effectively   in this social economic political and technological changes.

In Onitsha South this dynamism in the environment has continued to pose certain threats and opportunities to many organization e.g raw material sourcing market diversification research and development intensified competition market store managerial innovation improved organization climate and in fact an orientation towards an improved social quality of life. When this rapid change the management of any innovation and goal committed industrial establishment will periodically require a through skillful appraisal to the extent of which the current organization product and performance will meet the requirement of the situation and that of the organization goals and objective if the performance is shown to be inadequate management needs to be advised on how rectify this situation. To do this we require an individual with an experience of that is happening within the industrial establishment that is an employee (if one can be seen) possibly may not due to this assignment within the establishment. When an individual within the organization is not available it then requires the service of a management consultant to come in the must be committed to this work for it to function properly he should not be a member of the organization.

Management consultancy service is a constructive helpful deliberate and professional service provided to business organization to help the management in analyzing and solving practical organization problem by experts.

It focuses on the use of the expertise and research capabilities of their experts and facilities outside an organization to help solve internal organization problem. This aim is achieved by the management consultants through investigation and business recommendation of appropriate managerial actions and provision of implementation guidelines and facilities as a way of findings feasible and commensurate solutions to the problem at hand.

Management consultants have passed through many organizational problems and have leant how to use experiences from previous assignment to handle new once.

Management consultants keep abreast with development in management methods and technique and at the same time acting as a link between management theories and practices              

1.2   STATEMENT OF PROBLEM      

The massive failure of industrial establishment for the past few year were due a inadequate planning unforeseen frequent government policy changes shortage of raw materials inadequate financing of the organization.

Another problem that hamper the growth of industrial establishment or business in Onitsha South Local Government Area is that industrial establishment have not been making adequate use of services if the management consultancy firms

Thirdly though some firms may make use of the management consultancy firms they are still not making proper use of them for instance some firms do not state all that their problems are so that they could be taken care of properly.

Finally most industrialist or businessmen in Onitsha South L.G.A do not know the purpose of management consultancy firms.

This is because of lack of proper education on the part of the industrialist most of them are illiterates.

There is a problem of awareness creation the consultants fail make or create an industrialist are illiterate. They should be able to market themselves.

          1.3   SCOPE AND LIMITAITONS OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is very wide if it has to be carried out in the whole of Onitsha. Bur the study is limited to Onitsha South L.G.A due to shortage of time and material resources to see to the whole of Onitsha. This research is limited to Onitsha South L.G.A and therefore the findings may not reflect the situation in the whole country.

Through this findings may not be valid for the whole country by and large what happens in Onitsha South can be said to apply to other Local Government Area of the Country.

1.4   THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING THIS RESEARCH IS TO

1.     To examine how well the management consultants have been servicing the industrial establishment professionally that is from the industrial establishment points of view

2.     Determine to what extent industrial establishment in Ohitsha South of Anambra State are aware and well informed about the service rendered by the management consultants and the benefit of such service to the industries

3.     To verify problems hindering the industries from using the services rendered by the management consultants and also suggest alternative solution to problems.      

1.5   RESEARCH QUESTION

This research work will try to find answers to the following questions.

Do firms come to you for consultancy services?
How do you attend to this firm?
What kind of advice do you offer to them?
Do you ever inform them of government policies as regards the type of business they what to engage?
Do you ever direct them on the importance of feasibility studies before carrying out any business?
What emphasis do you lay on the basis amenities needed in sitting a business location
Are there gains derived by first of all consulting firms for counseling before sitting a business environment
What eventually are the objectives of the management consultancy firm with special reference on the Onitsha South Local Government Area?    
1.6       DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS

From the purpose of this work the following under listed terms are defined they are

1.   Industrial Establishment:       This is a business organization that engages in any of the following activities namely extracting manufacturing, processing and providing services that are essential to uplifting of human living standard.

2. Consultant Report:       This is the report of the consultant’s assignment in a written from. It contains the consultant’s findings and recommendations.

3. Client the person (s) or organization that engage the consultants it also means the customers of the management consultant.

4. Foreign body: Is an outsider when is neither a part of the worker in the company nor a customer.

5.   Repeat Behaivour:       This is the marketing term used to connote a repeat purchase of a commodity or service.

6.   Missions:   The objective or goals an organization or an individual wants to activities                

REFERENCE

Alan M (1975) “ The role of external Consultants in Management
Development Training England Megraw Hill

Albert D (1962) “ Management Consulting or Management Training Advanced

Management Journal Vol. 4Nov 11 New York, U.SA

Anama U.I (1984) Consulting in Nigeria Unpublished B.S.C Thesis

Department of Management University of Nigeria Nsuka

Chukwuidbe K (1994) Consultancy in Enugu State Enugu Filben Press

Doyles P (1992) Management of Consultancy New York Mcgram Hill BooksInc

Eze B.(1997) Small Business Management Enugu Abia Printers Ltd

Haginus L (1989)Small Business Development London Pitamans House