On Consulting
In general, I do not think that I much approve of the consulting industry. Now, perhaps I do not understand it, but from my POV, it seems like companies that actaully make things (whether those things be chairs, newspapers, or airplane parts) hire consultants to save them money, in the meantime paying the consultants exorbidant sums of money, which is spent on very high salaries for the employees, jet set parties, and $800 office chairs. Now, perhaps the consultants, by saving the useful company money, are in turn saving the consumer money. But if the consultants are the ones who solve problems and make decisions, then what is it that the actual business people do, aside from decide which consultants to hire? Why can't they make the decisions, and thereby save even more money for the consumer? It seems like an excess step to me, one that does not save as much money as possible, and widens the gap between rich and poor. Now I sound like Farmer. Maybe I should start reading something other than Farmer.