Twelve Principles of Consulting Excellence of The Management Consultancies Association (MCA)
Successful consulting companies have always been characterized by a high concentration of talented employees with a deep level of industry and functional expertise, and this is primarily due to the specifics of their business. However, taking into account the contemporary challenges, requirements and needs of clients, it should be noted that the level of excellence in consulting activity is constantly raising.
In order to provide a world-class consulting practice, the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) has developed the Consulting Excellence program, to which all MCA member firms adhere.
The Consulting Excellence initiative is a groundbreaking scheme for consulting companies seeking to adhere to the highest standards of consulting activities, which, as members of the MCA, adhere to and demonstrate them, and annually submit a Declaration of Consulting Excellence. The Consulting Excellence Initiative consists of four blocks and twelve principles, including the following: First Block: Ethical Behavior. Its essence is that consulting firms adhere to ethical standards in their interactions with clients, business partners, personnel and other stakeholders and counterparties. This block includes three principles:
- Accountability and Integrity;
- Ethical business conduct;
- Development of an ethical culture.
Second Block: Customer Service and Value. The essence of this block of principles is that world-class consulting companies adhere to the highest standards of client service and quality. This block includes the following principles:
- Providing high-quality consulting services that deliver the desired and expected results to clients;
- Client relationships are based on transparency and responsiveness to clients' problems, as well as quality and speed in solving those problems;
- Constantly striving to improve the value provided to clients.
Third block: Professional development. The principles of Consulting Excellence included in this block are focused on the fact that consulting companies provide their consultants with opportunities for continuous development, career growth and welfare improvement. The principles included in this block are as follows:
- Annual planning and implementation of training and professional development of employees;
- Promoting and encouraging strong consulting capabilities and specialization of consultants and teams;
- Providing opportunities and support for professional development, career growth and welfare of employees.
Block four: A commitment to diversity and inclusion. This block focuses on consulting firms' commitment to diversity and inclusion and includes the following principles:
- Respect for and acceptance of diversity and inclusion, and an understanding of the importance and benefits of people from diverse backgrounds;
- Recruiting and retaining people from a diverse talent pool and striving to create a culture that values and respects differences at all levels;
- Supporting industry efforts to improve progress on diversity and inclusion.
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Thus, the Consulting Excellence initiative, developed and supported by all MCA member firms, is a special mark of quality in the consulting industry, fostering collaboration between consultants and clients and strengthening relationships, as well as developing and promoting best consulting practices.