Information technology (IT) consulting is an area of specialization that helps organizations achieve their business objectives through integration of IT into business processes.

	+ Enlarge
	An IT consultant's job profile will depend on the size and nature of the firm he or she represents, the project, and the client company

The primary duties of an IT consultant involve recognizing the needs of the client's organization and devising technical architecture to interface between IT processes and the company's business systems. In addition to providing technical advice for the managers of the organization, an IT consultant sometimes installs and monitors IT systems on behalf of the organization.

Different Types of IT Consulting Firms

IT consulting firms operate at the following three levels:

1. Professional-services firms. These employ a large number of IT experts, charge top fees, and function at global levels. Often, they outsource their employees from other countries.

2. Staffing firms. These hire IT consultants on temporary basis. Also known as "body shops," these consulting firms capitalize on prevailing global-cost differences and can afford the services of guest consultants.

3. Independent consultants. Many consultants prefer to work independently as contractors or temporary employees of staffing firms. Some of them even team up with other independent consultants.

Causes of the Growth of IT Consulting

IT consulting is the result of the PC boom of the '80s and the Internet growth of the '90s. Luckily, the field survived the dot-com crash, and thanks to its explosive growth in the present decade, the general term "consulting" has more or less become synonymous with IT consulting.

Though there are many contributing factors, the following can be deemed major triggers for the tremendous growth of IT consulting in recent years:

• Innovation in computer architecture.
  
  
• Growing numbers of trained IT professionals.
  
  
• Unique software solutions.
  
  
• Strong expertise at economical levels.
  
  
• Unprecedented convergence of systems.
  
  
• Demand for managing the complex structural and cultural changes in organizations.

Job Profile of an IT Consultant

An IT consultant's job profile will depend on the size and nature of the firm he or she represents, the project, and the client company. The association between a client company and the consultant may last from a few hours to many years.

Depending on the client's requirements, an IT consultant may undertake following activities:

• Determining the requirements of the client organization.
  
  
• Designing the scope of the project.
  
  
• Planning schedules.
  
  
• Studying the client organization's systems, processes, and practices.
  
  
• Identifying the organization's problems.
  
  
• Recommending solutions to the company management.
  
  
• Outlining software, hardware, and network needs.
  
  
• Helping the client change management.
  
  
• Installing, testing, and monitoring new systems.
  
  
• Training users.

On the net:

The Future of IT Consulting
hbswk.hbs.edu/item/3402.html

Information technology consulting
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology_consulting

IT consultant: Job description and activities
www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p!eipaL?state=showocc&pageno=1&idno=424

Show Everyone What You Are Capable Of: Take Action and Investigate Jobs on 50,000+ Websites Instantly

Get immediate results in your job search: Discover consulting jobs from over 50,000 websites on ConsultingCrossing. It is not logical for you to be confined to consulting jobs on one website when you can have the exciting experience of searching over 50,000 websites at once. As a highly observant, fast paced and energetic person, you are resourceful and know that it is problematic that jobs are scattered on the websites of tens of thousands of companies, organizations and other job boards. By putting this tremendous variety of jobs in one place, we give you flexibility, and empower you to find the job of your choice. Our good-natured approach is one where we do not accept any money from advertisers for job postings; this allows us to provide you with unbiased research about every job opening. You are going to love the variety on our "consulting jobs only" site, the new people you will meet and the fun you will have as a result of taking the initiative and using us.

Tell us where to send your access instructions: Your Email: