Publicação
The role of business consulting firms in the era of artificial intelligence
| Resumo: | The paradigm of AI capabilities is reshaping the strategy of consulting firms and unlocking a new frontier of innovation. AI technologies, particularly LLMs, are driving unprecedented change, reinventing consulting practices and enabling efficiency gains never before achieved. However, these new practices require consultants to develop new skills in order to remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic market. Thus, understanding these dynamics required an innovative approach. This study is based on a scoping review (ScoLR) following the framework of Arksey & O’Malley (2005), which allows for mapping existing knowledge, identifying trends, gaps, and implications for the sector. This theoretical framework is complemented by a detailed analysis of the consulting market in Portugal, using the ORBIS (orbis-r1.bvdinfo.com) and base.gov (www.base.gov.pt) databases, with the aim of clarifying the structure of the sector, key players, and the types of services most commonly provided. One of the main contributions of this research is the development of a vulnerability matrix, which classifies consulting services according to their exposure to potential automation or knowledge internalisation by clients, highlighting the areas with the highest long-term strategic value. In parallel, qualitative interviews with industry stakeholders provide valuable insights into how companies are responding to the digital transformation driven by AI, seeking to balance innovation with ethical and operational considerations. The results highlight the transformative potential of AI for productivity and innovation, and offer practical recommendations to help consulting firms make the technological transition and consolidate their competitive advantage. |
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| Autores principais: | Melo, Inês Pedro da Rocha |
| Assunto: | Automation Human capital Business consulting Artificial Intelligence (AI) Large Language Models (LLMs) Digital transformation |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso embargado |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Aveiro |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | RIA - Repositório Institucional da Universidade de Aveiro |
| Resumo: | The paradigm of AI capabilities is reshaping the strategy of consulting firms and unlocking a new frontier of innovation. AI technologies, particularly LLMs, are driving unprecedented change, reinventing consulting practices and enabling efficiency gains never before achieved. However, these new practices require consultants to develop new skills in order to remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic market. Thus, understanding these dynamics required an innovative approach. This study is based on a scoping review (ScoLR) following the framework of Arksey & O’Malley (2005), which allows for mapping existing knowledge, identifying trends, gaps, and implications for the sector. This theoretical framework is complemented by a detailed analysis of the consulting market in Portugal, using the ORBIS (orbis-r1.bvdinfo.com) and base.gov (www.base.gov.pt) databases, with the aim of clarifying the structure of the sector, key players, and the types of services most commonly provided. One of the main contributions of this research is the development of a vulnerability matrix, which classifies consulting services according to their exposure to potential automation or knowledge internalisation by clients, highlighting the areas with the highest long-term strategic value. In parallel, qualitative interviews with industry stakeholders provide valuable insights into how companies are responding to the digital transformation driven by AI, seeking to balance innovation with ethical and operational considerations. The results highlight the transformative potential of AI for productivity and innovation, and offer practical recommendations to help consulting firms make the technological transition and consolidate their competitive advantage. |
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Atividades financiadas
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