Business consulting has its origins in the work done in the United States by Frederick W. Taylor and his disciples at the turn of the century. Taylor, a young engineer, devised a philosophy and system of production management. His book, The Principles of Scientific Management, converted what had been a technique into a systematic, teachable approach to the study of work and its rational organization. Today, management consultants range from boutiques to large firms with several thousand professionals. Consulting firms differ in the type of work they do, e.g., systems management, market assessments, new product development, strategy and organization, as well as in their objectives, e.g., solutions, implementation, capability building.
Some consultants work with functional specialists or division heads, others with top management.
Lakota Associates, Inc. focuses on adapting and applying proven best practices both in it's consulting methodologies and to it's clients' challenges.