By Tom Rodenhauser, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Many of you have probably watched the new Showtime series, "House of Lies." The black comedy's portrayal of management consultants makes me blush. At least the guys and gals in AMC's 1960s-era Mad Men look cool sipping martinis and smoking unfiltered Lucky Strikes. The "Lies" cast can't pull off the same with their money-grubbing soullessness, and brilliant-but-vacuous characterizations of blood-sucking consultants.
For plausible drama, Hollywood usually turns to doctors, cops or lawyers. With management consulting, one can't manufacture life-or-death drama through spreadsheets. So instead, scriptwriters showcase every nasty consultant attribute and laugh.
I've been covering this opaque, billion-dollar industry for almost 20 years now, and it's amazing that virtually every clich
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