Integration into the Firm - German, Swiss, and U.S. American Monitoring and Coordination Compared

Abstract

This article compares instruments which IT-firms use to integrate their business consultants - esp. the way monitoring and coordination of activities works. It is based empirically on interviews with consultants and managers of consulting units of a U.S. American firm in Germany, the Swiss subsidiary of a German IT-firm and business units of this firm located in Germany. A cybernetic organizational model provides the theoretical frame. The findings show instruments to integrate personnel in a way which support firms’ attempts to be present on global markets.

Keywords: Business Consultants, Integration, autonomy, self-management, process, goal, Management by Objectives, Germany, USA, Switzerland, IT

JEL Classification: M10, M12, M14, M52, M54, L10, L20, L84, L86, D23, F23, J30