GLOBAL GLOBAL ALUMNI SIGN UP Search form SEARCH ABOUT US MISSION WHAT WE DO LEADERSHIP HISTORY Our history: “Who says it can’t be done?” Arthur D. Little loved a challenge. His response of “Who says it can’t be done?” when asked whether it was possible to create a silk purse out of a pig’s ear represents all that we stand for. For our entire history, we have been driven by issues challenging us to turn the unimagined into reality. Discover our timeline Arthur D. Little, founded in 1886, is the world’s first management consultancy. On October 1st, 1886, Arthur Dehon Little opened a chemical-analysis office in Boston. The opening of the office was the birth of contract research which would bridge the gap between emerging science and the practical needs of society and industry. It slowly evolved into one of the hubs of outsourced chemical research in the US. But Arthur D. Little even went a step further. In 1911, when the company he had founded had already built up 25 years of innovation management expertise, he opened the first research lab for General Motors on GM’s premises. He was not aware at that point that with the contract for outsourcing parts of research for GM, he had invented a new business model for his firm – and the industry. For more than 130 years, the Arthur D. Little name has been synonymous with technological ingenuity and innovative thinking. Arthur D. Little’s management consulting services were traditionally sought after not only by corporations but also by state bodies, federal agencies and governments worldwide. Its project work focused on corporate finance, environmental risk, information management, operations, strategy and organization, technology and innovation, and a host of other services to maintain the competitiveness of its clients. Today, Arthur D. Little has a range of showcases for its ground-breaking thought leadership, including Prism, its biannual journal that touches on emerging industry trends, strategic thinking and operational excellence. Arthur D. Little’s success can be attributed to its professionals and business methodologies. Our professionals approach projects by getting to the heart of the question. From there, information is extrapolated, reviewed and assessed to determine more effective ways to operate, go to market, and increase revenues. Success is not based on a single action, but on the collective actions of the team. By working side-by-side™ with our clients, we prove to them that we are just as strongly committed as they are to understanding and addressing their challenges. Arthur D. Little is not a bureaucratic culture but one that is collaborative and forward-thinking. Our people consistently epitomize those values via the way projects are defined and managed throughout their lifecycles. In today’s world, our professionals look at topics as diverse as the sustainability of transportation biofuels, solutions for the private equity sector or the licensing strategies for biopharmaceutical companies. "Our firm’s deep industry knowledge, linked to our strong expertise in strategy, technology and innovation, helps us solve our clients’ most complex business issues while delivering sustainable results to their businesses. Our clients recognize this value and seek us out when faced with these challenges. As we continue to expand our market presence and take on projects that enrich the career goals of our professionals, the next 100 years of Arthur D. Little will be just as exciting as its first century!" Ignacio Garcia Alves, Global Chairman & CEO, Arthur D. Little DISCOVER OUR TIMELINE < PREVIOUS Leadership NEXT > Missions Follow us Admin Legal information Cookie Policy Notice of Privacy This site uses cookies and gives you control over what you want to activate OK, accept all Deny all cookies Personalize Privacy policy