The consultingheads blog - Interesting facts about consulting

When decision-makers ask what external roles are needed for transformation, the question is rarely...

An AI pilot project delivers convincing results in a workshop but fails three months later in...

This article explains the common contract structures for interim management in Germany. It is...

The value of an investment isn’t determined solely by a compelling investment thesis. What matters...

A cloud program rarely stalls due to a lack of technology. The critical issue usually lies where...

Quickly onboarding freelancers is no longer just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a crucial competitive...

A digital roadmap rarely fails because of a lack of slides. It fails when priorities become diluted...

The developer is missing; the project runs anyway. Opening a permanent position takes months and...

When a leadership position opens up unexpectedly, a company faces an uncomfortable calculation:...

At a time when the German logistics sector is stagnating, with real growth forecast at just 0.5 per...

Can you afford to wait three months to fill a critical management vacancy while your transformation...

A transformation program is stalling, due diligence is due to start in ten days, or an ERP roll-out...

More than 104,000 unfilled IT security positions in Germany and an average cost of 4.25 million...

Nearly 79 percent of hiring managers plan to rely more heavily on freelance talent for their...

By 2026, the success of your IT projects will no longer depend on strategic intent, but rather on...

Liquidity is running low, a transformation program is stalling, or operational performance is...

In 2026, the search for top-tier marketing expertise often feels like a risky race against time,...

An ERP rollout stalls, margins fall short of target, an acquisition needs to be integrated, or a...

When a carve-out stalls, an ERP project enters a critical phase, or a performance plan needs to...

A vacant CTO position in 2026 is not merely a staffing shortage, but a direct risk to your digital...

Did you know that up to 88% of all digital transformation projects fail to meet their goals, even...

If the 13-week liquidity plan shows no remaining reserves, covenants come under pressure, or a...

In 2026, a vacant leadership position in human resources will cost a company far more than just...

Did you know that the market for specialized freelance platforms is projected to grow to nearly...

Today, 82% of decision-makers are convinced that interim managers implement transformation...

In small and medium-sized businesses, a sale, acquisition, or carve-out ties up precisely the...

67% of German companies identify artificial intelligence as a key investment priority for 2026, but...

Outsourcing a strategic project is no substitute for a lack of internal accountability. It is a...

The most valuable synergies of a merger often don’t die at the negotiating table, but rather on the...

A program rarely runs into trouble because a team isn’t working hard enough. Things become critical...

A carve-out is stalling, the ERP program is missing milestones, or a portfolio company needs a...

What happens when your company’s liquidity reserves are dwindling faster than your management’s...

A transformation program stalls, the CFO is suddenly unavailable, or a carve-out integration...

The era of junior teams at traditional large consulting firms ends exactly where your most complex...

A forecast has been on hold for weeks because data sources don’t align. An AI pilot impresses...

Just under 79% of freelancers in the DACH region no longer limit themselves to pure strategy...

An interim manager on a turnaround project is not hired to prolong the analysis phase. He or she...

Did you know that, according to data from 2025, around 50 percent of top managers cannot name their...

A sales team can prepare quotes faster, the purchasing department can identify price discrepancies...

A transformation program is stalling, a due diligence project requires in-depth operational...

According to recent surveys, 86 percent of all employees are unable to identify their company’s...

A transformation project cannot afford any downtime. If an experienced program manager, data...

In 2026, the speed at which knowledge can be accessed will determine market success, which is why...

A deal rarely loses value because an investment team doesn’t create enough slides. Things become...

A vacant position at the operational management level is not merely a resource issue, but a direct...

The era of anonymous mass platforms is finally over. Anyone seeking excellent results today must...

The transaction has been signed, the target scenarios have been agreed upon—but the real value...

Large companies in Germany are facing a bottleneck: They often lack the right experts at the right...

In a market environment shaped by AI-driven transformation and new regulatory requirements such as...

A transformation program rarely stalls because a company lacks goals. Often, what’s missing is...

A transformation program rarely fails because of the target architecture or a missing PowerPoint...

Did you know that nearly 38 percent of all interim assignments in Germany are now for small and...

A single missing supplier part can jeopardize production, revenue, and customer relationships all...

Nearly 70% of German companies have identified AI and digital technologies as their top investment...

A cash flow crunch, the loss of a major client, or a project that’s burning through the budget...

When a carve-out stalls, an ERP project goes off the rails, or an earnings shortfall needs to be...

The traditional consultant selection process, which takes several weeks, will finally become...

A critical program hits a snag, the results call for swift action, or a key role becomes vacant at...

By 2026, only 13 percent of German companies will be considered highly innovative. This drastic...

Did you know that the global e-commerce conversion rate is expected to average just 1.74 percent in...

A transformation program is in place, the target architecture is still being defined, and the...

Did you know that over 70 percent of medium-sized industrial companies identify operational...

In 2023, German companies were required to pay approximately 487 million euros in back payments and...

A carve-out is being delayed due to a lack of finance capacity. An ERP project is at risk of...

A transformation program is stalling, a carve-out requires finance capacity on short notice, or an...

63% of the available freelancers in the logistics market have more than 20 years of in-depth...

A carve-out rarely fails because of the transaction logic. The critical phase comes in the weeks...

Why should you pay for the massive overhead of a Big Four consulting firm when operational...

When a plant misses its delivery deadlines, working capital pressure rises, or a transformation...

Did you know that the average hourly rate for freelance consultants in Germany is projected to...

A cloud program rarely stalls because of a lack of a clear vision. The real challenge arises when...

A vacant CFO position is not an administrative oversight, but a direct threat to strategic...

A transformation program loses six weeks because a supposedly experienced project manager first has...

A transformation program rarely loses its effectiveness because the project mandate is unclear....

What good is the best technological vision if its implementation fails due to a lack of operational...

By 2026, the traditional pyramid model of the major consulting firms will have finally reached its...

A carve-out stalls due to a lack of PMI experience. An ERP rollout requires a program manager on...

When a transformation program stalls, the cause rarely lies solely with the strategy. Often, there...

The majority of companies underestimate the risk of internal blindness when dealing with entrenched...

What does it really cost your company when a strategic project stalls simply because the search for...

When lead times increase, interfaces create friction, or the cost base comes under pressure, it...

Why do companies spend valuable weeks screening resumes while their data potential remains...

When a transformation program stalls, an M&A deal needs reliable support on short notice, or a...

In 2026, a typical executive search process in Germany will take an average of six to nine months....

When it comes to strategic expert sourcing, volume is the opposite of efficiency. A professional...

A transformation program rarely loses its impact due to a lack of slides. It loses time because...

A transformation program rarely stalls because of a lack of presentations. It stalls when, during...

Did you know that 79% of companies confirm that external experts implement change processes more...

On the Monday following the closing, the real test begins: decisions must be made, synergies...

Hiring a well-known, large consulting firm for your digital transformation is often the surest way...

When a transformation program stalls, an acquisition needs to be prepared, or a market push is...

What does a strategic standstill in the finance department really cost your company? Many...

A transformation project rarely stalls because a company lacks contacts. It stalls because, at the...

Just under 16% of German industrial companies reported severe shortages of intermediate goods in...

When a transformation program stalls, it is rarely due to the strategy alone. More often than not,...

In a volatile economic landscape, the sudden loss of a senior executive is no longer merely a...

A plant misses delivery deadlines, working capital rises, service quality declines—and the line...

79% of companies confirm that interim managers implement change processes not only more quickly but...

An ERP rollout is stalling, carve-out planning is behind schedule, or a new sales strategy must be...

Why wait months for a new hire when the solution for your critical projects can be up and running...

By 2026, the traditional consulting pyramid will be a thing of the past for companies that demand...

When a transformation project stalls, a carve-out needs to gain momentum, or there’s a sudden lack...

When reporting is inconsistent, the monthly closing takes too long, or an M&A process is underway...

A vacant CFO position during a critical phase of a company’s development is not merely a personnel...

Jan Peter Schacht, a transformation manager with over 30 years of experience in management...

Anyone responsible for an operations program today rarely faces a problem of insight. More often...

In 2026, 27.8 percent of the gross annual target rate represents the average for traditional...

Did you know that 74% of executives disregard academic degrees when staffing projects, provided...

Anyone who needs to find cloud transformation experts under intense time pressure usually doesn’t...

When a reporting system is no longer effective, forecasts fall flat, or a data project has been...

Did you know that 62 percent of experts rank bogus self-employment as the most critical legal risk...

Digital transformation projects rarely fail because of strategy. They fail because the right...

What good is a network of thousands of experts if the key position in your company remains unfilled...

When a deal needs to be prepared, reviewed, or integrated under time pressure, good intentions...

Traditional recruitment for strategic projects has reached the limits of its effectiveness. Anyone...

The deal has been signed, the press release has been sent out, and expectations are high. For many...

With a market volume of 2.7 billion euros and a projected utilization rate of 81 percent, the...

Anyone who needs reliable answers under time pressure during a transaction cannot afford a learning...

Operating cost increases of up to 25 percent and the complexity of new regulations, such as the...

An ERP rollout is stalling, the core team is overwhelmed, yet the go-live date remains unchanged....

When it comes to time-sensitive vacancies, traditional permanent employment is often the greatest...

When a transformation program stalls, it’s rarely because of a lack of slides. More often than not,...

Just under 73 percent of companies in Germany rate the progress of digitalization as insufficient...

When an AI project stalls, it’s rarely because of the idea itself. More often than not, what’s...

Did you know that every euro invested in qualified external expertise yields an average return of...

Investing in state-of-the-art Agentic AI will have no effect if it is held back by outdated, analog...

When a plant is unable to deliver, an S&OP process breaks down, or two different approaches clash...

When suppliers drop out, costs rise suddenly, or a transformation project in procurement hits a...

What good is even the most visionary strategy if it gets bogged down in the wheels of sluggish...

When a transformation project stalls, it’s rarely due solely to a lack of capacity. Often, what’s...

According to Bitkom, 61 percent of companies in Germany make little or no use of their existing...

When a transformation project stalls, a PMI must be launched under time pressure, or there is a...

Did you know that traditional consulting models often make more money from the products they sell...

A carve-out rarely fails because of the strategy. It fails when decisions are made too late,...

Did you know that the average time to fill a specialized IT position in Germany is now 7.7 months?...

If a project is already underway, the steering committee has been scheduled, and the organization...

By 2026, operational excellence will no longer be a matter of chance, but rather a question of...

When figures are late, forecasts are unreliable, or investment decisions are made based on...

What happens to your growth strategy if a key executive resigns tomorrow and, based on market...

When a transformation program starts to falter, it’s rarely due solely to the concept. More often...

Is a high freelance expert fee a burden on your project budget or the necessary insurance against...

Value levers are rarely activated at the Investment Committee level. They emerge within the...

In the current market environment, can your company afford to put its HR strategy on hold for six...

When a portfolio company fails to meet its goals, it’s rarely due to a lack of PowerPoint slides....

In 2026, an excellent track record is merely a ticket to the door—not a guarantee of project...

Anyone who needs to staff a critical project under pressure to deliver results will sooner or later...

According to the World Economic Forum, over 80% of global companies expect ongoing disruptions to...

When a transformation project stalls, a post-merger phase is under time pressure, or there is a...

A vacant marketing leadership position in 2026 is far more than just a staffing shortage; it is a...

If a transformation program is still talking about “target states” after three months, it’s rarely...

A carve-out rarely fails because of the strategy on paper. The real challenge arises when Day-1...

By 2026, 41 percent of German companies will already be using artificial intelligence, marking a...

When an HR program stalls, it’s rarely because of the PowerPoint presentation. More often than not,...

Did you know that, according to a McKinsey study, about 70 percent of all transformation projects...

Anyone responsible for ESG today is familiar with the pattern: Requirements are growing faster than...

A transformation project rarely fails because of the strategy. It fails because, when it comes to...

A low daily rate is often the most expensive decision a company can make. In a market environment...

Growth rarely fails because of a lack of ambition. It fails because of a lack of focus, a lack of...

A vacant leadership position in 2026 is not merely an administrative bottleneck, but a daily drain...

When a carve-out stalls, an ERP rollout goes awry, or operational leadership is suddenly lacking...

In a market environment characterized by extreme volatility and an industry-wide capacity...

When a transformation program comes to a standstill, it is rarely due to a lack of PowerPoint. What...

When companies need to find an interim manager, it is rarely about comfort. It's about time...

 As a consultant you decipher partner notes, read decks and countless emails daily. But hand on...

The first quarter of the year has come to an end. This provides an opportunity to take a closer...

Consultants often work under enormous pressure. Long working hours, high expectations and an...

Finally summer, finally vacation, finally time to read! Still looking for interesting inspiration...

As a consultant, you have a profession that is very popular among young graduates. A steep learning...

Freelancers and freelance jobs are terms that are appearing more and more frequently in the modern...

In an increasingly digitalized world, online accessibility is not just a social responsibility, but...

Exit opportunities open up new paths for your professional development. But what are the career...

A CEO of a technology company specializing in the development of software solutions for the...

Sebastian moved from a boutique consultancy to Siemens Management Consulting in August with the...

Who are our consultingheads users anyway? A selected mix of (young) professionals and...

Simon is a former management consultant, but his true passion has always been startups. After...

In recent years, private equity (PE) has established itself as one of the most dynamic and...

In the dynamic corporate world, the position and tasks of the of the Chief of Staff of increasing...

“We had this awesome idea, everything worked out, and we made really good money.”

Success stories...

The consulting industry is extremely diverse and encompasses many specializations and niches....

The RASCI matrix (or RACI matrix) is a tried-and-tested project management tool that is used to...

In today's data and technology-driven world of work, companies face a key challenge: identifying,...

E-mobility is not only changing how we get around, but also where we spend our time - especially at...

If you're a management consultant looking to make the move into freelance consulting, you're...

“OKR” comes from the English and stands for Objectives and Key results (Objectives and key...

It's been almost a year since Michael took his next career step via consultingheads: from an...

The successful recruitment of a new employee marks the beginning of one of the most important...

A central decision-making process for companies is the choice between employees in permanent...

As a successful management consultant at one of our partners Simon-Kucher & Partners, Stefanie zur...

The world of work is in a state of continuous change, characterized by technological innovations,...

Markus Kopp is a consultant.

He’s worked 180 hours over the past two weeks. “I’m sick of working...

Dhe Chief Technology Officer (CTO) plays a key role in the world of corporate management an...

In the world of consulting, there is an innovative solution that brings companies and qualified...

Andreas is an IT and business consultant with a focus on SAP security. In an interview, he...

The consulting industry is fast-paced and it can be easy to get lost in the daily challenges and...

Some consultants consider moving to another firm after several years of experience rather than...

In today's working world, where flexibility and specialization are becoming increasingly important,...