IIFT PHDCCI NATIONAL CONSULTING SYMPOSIUM 
 Changing Business Scenarios & New Frontiers in Consulting 
 9th August, 2007, IIFT Auditorium, New Delhi, India 
Overview

Changing Business Scenarios & New Frontiers in Consulting
9th August, 2007
IIFT Auditorium, New Delhi, India

The consulting industry is a multifaceted, global business sector that is facing many challenges and evolving quickly. The industry has had to adapt to the increasing integration of the world markets and economies. In fact it is this ‘flattening of the world’ from which the industry derives its most challenges as well as value.

The consulting industry is undoubtedly on the fast growth track. The worldwide market for management consultancy has grown from less than $10 billion almost a decade ago to over $100 billion today. The growth in the last decades has been phenomenal. However, the corporate scandals and the general economic slowdown the world over during 2001-2003 did impact the industry significantly and since then, it has had to rebuild and remodel itself so as to offer maximum value in the changed global scenario.

In the post 2003 world, the consulting industry has changed its look and adapted to the needs of the constantly evolving business world. With cost cutting and new competitive strategies being the order of the day, most companies have had to change their outlook about consulting, thus contributing significantly to the rising demand for consultants in all aspects of business.

As clients look for integrated solutions to their management and IT requirements, many consultancy firms are entering into alliances with software suppliers, telecoms or communications conglomerates in order to provide a broader range of services and to extend their global reach.

The growing globalization of business and industry in general has led inevitably to the globalization of the leading consulting companies. Most of the big consulting firms have set up significant offices in India. This is a reflection of the growing acceptance amongst governments and businesses of the economic potential of India. With nearly 4000 consulting agencies already present in India, and considering that the country is in the midst of an economic revolution as well as the dynamic phase that business in India is at the moment, the scope for consultancy services within the country can only grow further.

Objectives The Seminar:

This symposium is an opportunity for the students, consultants and managers from the corporate world to be an audience to the crème de la crème of the consulting industry and learn about the changing face of the industry as well as gather significant insight about the opportunities and scope for such services.
Subjects to be Explored:

Changing Scenario of M&A - Format v/s Content in Consulting
Indian markets were never so attractive to MNCs, who in large numbers are opening up businesses in India giving the domestic corporate a tough fight. On the other end, Indian behemoths were never so un-satiated and are on a global acquiring-spree. Should a company look for financial viability or should it look for strategic fits? Are the companies being forced to compromise their core competencies? Would a “zero-based” format be the most appropriate approach for strategy formulation?

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
Since the second half of 2003, there has been a shift in momentum towards the software as a service model. Today, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is growing in acceptance among IT professionals. The "pay-as-you-go" model is becoming a strong consideration for many executives forced with a decision of whether to upgrade current software applications and related infrastructures or move to an outsourced model. This shift fundamentally changes roles and responsibilities between software vendors, professional service firms and end-users. An increase in demand for SaaS requires traditional software and service firms to revise market strategies to compete effectively against well-funded competitors. What effect will the new distribution model have on existing revenue streams? How to ensure current product or service offerings won't be jeopardized?

Re-inventing the Value Chain
The fundamental logic of value creation is changing in the fast-paced competitive environment. Competitors from previously unrelated sectors are changing the rules of the game overnight. The emerging situation throws up many questions that need answering - Is strategy just positioning an organization at the right place in the value chain? Should companies add value or re-invent it? How thin is the line between a product and a service in today’s world? The very fundamental business partner-supplier-customer equations are changing.  How to match the various capabilities of participants more efficiently and effectively than ever? Should one have a global focus? How promising is the rural scenario?
Who Should Attend?

  • Professionals in the field of consultancy, CIOs, CTOs, Business Heads and Entrepreneurs who want to develop strategies based on the emerging trends in the Consultancy space.

  • Strategic decision makers in Micro, Small and Medium businesses that have deployed or intend to deploy IT services as a means of productivity enhancement, competitive advantage and value addition

  • Students and professionals who dream of a successful career in the Consultancy space and want to network with their peers.
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