Let’s wrap up the week with some Big Ideas.
I’m going to start with a piece in Fortune. The role of consultants is evolving as companies seek strategic partners to address operational challenges. Traditional advisory services are no longer sufficient, and companies are turning to consultants to fill operational gaps. Many professional services firms are transitioning into managed services providers, offering end-to-end management of core business functions. This shift is driven by the need to keep up with technological change, navigate economic volatility, leverage AI, and address cybersecurity threats. The managed services market is predicted to grow into a $500+ billion industry by 2028. Advisory firms are combining subject-matter expertise with operational capabilities, acting as both advisors and delivery partners. They are also building networks of technology partners to provide clients with the necessary skills and technology. Flexible team structures and fee models are being adopted to meet clients’ needs. The rise of managed services is expected to continue, leading to blended and flexible approaches to engagements with consultants and strategic partners.
I also want to introduce the idea of the Echoverse from Harvard Business Review. The Internet and AI tools are transforming marketing communications in the echoverse, a complex and interactive landscape. Traditional communication models are giving way to omnidirectional communication, and marketers need to shift from leading messaging to guiding messaging. The authors propose a typology of marketing communication strategies, including echoverse marketing, and recommend enabling co-creation, creating directed learning opportunities, and adopting a continuous learning mindset.
ITPro highlights a rise in ‘shadow SaaS’ usage, which poses a significant blind spot for enterprise security teams. Nearly three-quarters of workers admit to using unauthorized SaaS applications. Despite being aware of the risks, such as data loss and breaches, organizations lack clear policies and consequences for using these tools. Security teams should evaluate and provide approved alternatives to mitigate risks. Concerns about shadow AI are also present, with organizations implementing tools and policies to control its use.
And is white-collar work just … becoming meetings? From the Atlantic, white-collar workers are spending more time in meetings than ever before, even as they work remotely. The share of the workday spent in meetings has steadily increased over the past few decades, and recent cultural changes emphasizing inclusion and decision-making have contributed to this trend. The article highlights the negative impact of excessive meetings on productivity and suggests that artificial intelligence tools may help eliminate unnecessary meetings in the future.
Why do we care?
The writer in Fortune agrees with me. There is value in the peanut butter and jelly of recurring revenue and project work. It’s additive – you want both.
Enjoy the weekend.