Consultants can be found in virtually every type of work setting imaginable, but unless you've either worked for one or had one work for you, you probably couldn't say exactly what they do. Yet as companies and government agencies strive to keep up with a rapidly changing world, while simultaneously keeping staffing costs down, they find that consultants can help them meet both needs.
Consultants are especially useful to management.
The work of management analysts and consultants varies with each client or employer and from project to project. In general, analysts and consultants first collects, reviews, and analyze information. They then make recommendations to management and may assist in the implementation of their proposal. A company which has developed a new consumer product and has no experience selling such a product may retain a marketing consultant to help design a marketing program and approach. Someone whom they all respect and trust may be retained to study the issue and render an independent recommendation on which way to go.