The Professional Knowledge Economy

The professionalization of business is related to the complexity of the business and to turbulence in the business environment. One key issue is the increasing use of external consultants. Growth of the consultancy industry has resulted in a vast pool of advanced knowledge, providing a flexible alternative to rigid, costly internal professional support departments. The work examines the conditions needed for efficient integration of external professional support and the internal knowledge base. The book contains an extensive case study of the management consultancy industry, the results of which are used to construct a framework for strategic management in the industry.