Information technology consulting (IT consulting, Computer consultancy, Computing
consultancy, technology consulting or business and technology services)
is a field that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to
meet their business objectives. In addition to providing advice, IT consultancies often implement,
deploy, and administer IT systems on businesses' behalf.
The IT consulting industry can be viewed as a three-tier system:
- Professional services firms which maintain large professional workforces and command
high bill rates. These firms are increasingly sourcing their employees from low-cost
nations.
- Staffing firms, which place technologists in businesses on a temporary basis. These firms
are pejoratively known as "body shops". While they are geographically limited
by their customers, they can exploit global cost differences by bringing guest workers to
their host country. Body Shops are typically distinguished from Consultancies by their commercial
practice of pricing service by the day (the input), rather than by the results of their
work (the outputs, or deliverables).
- Independent consultants, who function as contractors (in the U.S, on "1099"),
employees of staffing firms (in the U.S, employed on "W-2"), or as subcontractors
in their own right.
There is a relatively unclear line between management consulting and IT consulting. There
are sometimes overlaps between the two fields, but IT consultants often have degrees in computer
science, electronics, technology, or management information systems while management consultants
often have degrees in accounting, economics, Industrial Engineering, finance, or a generalized
MBA (Masters in Business Administration).
According to the Institute for Partner Education & Development, IT consultants' revenues
come predominantly from design and planning based consulting with a mixture of IT and Business
Consulting. This is different from a Systems Integrator in that you do not normally take title
to product. Their value comes from their ability to integrate and support technologies as
well as determining product and brands.
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