This document is concerned with a singular and very specialised subject: the key to successful transition for an experienced manager whose career to date has been with-in various small, medium and large firms, into becoming an Interim Manager and Consultant, working independently.
The title of this research project gives an indication of the subject. It explores four issues for a start-up in business in the DACH region, in order to find strategic key suc-cess factors for establishing me as a self-employed freelancer in Interim Management and Management Consulting.
There are further four research questions with objectives addressed in my investigation which have been focused on.
Part of the research involved interviewing sixteen people with knowledge/experience of Interim Management and/or Management Consulting. During the interviews, eight questions have been asked regarding an Interim Management working model/market and Management Consulting Marketing/Image. The developed interview questions have been semi-structured with a small guiding introduction. The interview questions helped to develop a more cogent understanding of the issues and findings, and the interrelationships related to the issues.
Conclusions have been, that the research questions have been answered, and recommendations made as follows hereafter.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Project and investigation context
1.2. Aims and objectives
1.3. Personal objectives
1.4. Organisational objectives
2. Problem definition
2.1. Discussion and definition of the problem drawing on relevant literature to develop the investigation
2.2. Linking the discussion to the data collection method and process to address the issue
2.2.1. Sampling and preparing the data with a focus on justification drawing on literature and need of the issue
3. Collection and analysis of evidence
3.1. Discussion of the process of collecting the evidence/fieldwork
3.2. Analysis based on a logical and appropriate process to enhance the analysis
3.3. Develop more cogent understanding of the issues and findings
3.3.1. Interrelationships to the issues and subsequent analysis
4. Conclusion and recommendation
4.1 Conclusions
4.2. Recommendations
4.3. Consideration of critical implementation issues to the investigation
5. Personal reflection
5.1. Evaluation of personal learning and development to the investigation
5.2. Achievement of personal learning objectives
5.3. Future development needs
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary research objective is to identify strategic key success factors for establishing a successful career as a self-employed freelance Interim Manager and Management Consultant within the DACH region, focusing on effectively balancing market strategy and personal professional branding.
- Analysis of market trends for Interim Management and Consulting in the DACH region.
- Evaluation of professional marketing strategies for individual consultants and freelancers.
- Development of personal branding frameworks based on specialized expertise and unique value propositions.
- Investigation of effective client acquisition channels, including agency providers and direct networking.
Excerpt from the Book
Unique competing space
There are several ways of thinking about the firm’s competitive position. I have already presented the notion of the value proposition. Additionally, one can think of the firm’s competitive position in terms of an area within which it is able to create and deliver a unique value offering. Few capture the essence of this latter perspective better than the recently proposed framework of Collis & Rukstad (2008), which describes the firm’s opportunity space for creating a uniquely differentiated value offering in terms of a ‘strategic key spot’. More fitting would be to describe the area in question in terms of the firm’s unique competing space (Tovstiga, 2015) since the area in question is really a bounded space with strategic implications for the firm, and not a one-dimensional point as might be inferred by the term ‘key spot’. The issue of the label aside, the essence of the notion is powerful. The firm’s unique competing space is the area in which the firm creates and delivers a value offering in response to customers’ needs in a way that competitors cannot (Figure 3).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the author's background and provides a definition of Interim Management and Management Consulting within the German-speaking DACH region.
2. Problem definition: Analyzes the market size, growth trends, and the strategic challenges of establishing a freelance consultancy practice in the DACH market.
3. Collection and analysis of evidence: Details the qualitative research methodology, including interviews with 16 practitioners to derive strategic insights.
4. Conclusion and recommendation: Synthesizes the research findings into actionable recommendations for successful positioning as a self-employed professional.
5. Personal reflection: Evaluates the author's individual learning journey and the achievement of professional development goals throughout the research project.
Keywords
Interim Management, Management Consulting, DACH Region, Strategic Key Success Factors, Self-employment, Freelancing, Value Proposition, Unique Competing Space, Branding, Professional Profiling, Client Acquisition, Market Analysis, Career Transition, Business Strategy, Professional Networking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research project?
The project focuses on the strategic transition of an experienced manager into the role of a self-employed freelance Interim Manager and Management Consultant within the DACH region.
What are the central thematic areas covered in the work?
The study centers on market analysis, branding, the development of a unique value proposition, and effective client acquisition strategies in professional services.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The research aims to determine the critical success factors required to establish a robust market position as an independent consultant, specifically answering how to navigate current market dynamics and competition.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a qualitative research methodology, conducting 16 semi-structured interviews with experts in Interim Management and Consulting, analyzed via an coding-based process.
What does the main body address?
The main body examines strategic frameworks like the 'Unique Competing Space', evaluates regional market trends, and synthesizes practitioner feedback on marketing and client relations.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is best defined by terms such as Interim Management, Professional Branding, DACH Market, Strategic Positioning, and Freelance Consulting.
How does the author define the 'Unique Competing Space'?
The author defines it as a bounded domain where a firm delivers value in a way competitors cannot, relying on customers' needs, competitor offerings, and internal competitiveness.
What role does the 'Kapferer's brand identity prism' play in this study?
It serves as the conceptual model used to analyze the differentiating features of the author's personal brand to build a strong, exclusive identity for business clients.
- Citation du texte
- Stefan Johann Leirich (Auteur), 2019, Establishing a ‘Big Company Manager‘ as a Self-employed Freelancer in Interim Management & Management Consulting, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/537367
