For management consultants, the ultimate output is a change in the client's actions that results in value creation. This is achieved through a combination of hypothesis testing, data analysis, and influencing, all of which are primarily documented through PowerPoint presentations. As such, consulting firms create and archive hundreds of presentations every week. From project selling to delivery, a consulting firm's ability to effectively organize, search, and leverage their prior work is a critical differentiator and productivity booster.
A new focus to content and knowledge management is slide-level access, helping consultants quickly find the specific content they need without scanning multiple presentations. Providing slide-level access can drive productivity, increase knowledge capture, and improve client engagements. Many firms develop in-house tools to share a limited set of material. However, an enterprise level solution that can connect to large repositories is needed to unlock the majority of the value.
As former consultants, my colleague and I set out to develop a slide-level search or slide library solution called TeamSlide. Over the last two years, we've gained an in-depth understanding of consulting knowledge management's needs and operational requirements. This article outlines our journey and learnings as we worked with consultants, IT staff, and knowledge experts across several management consulting firms.
