Worst advice was from IT consultants, say firms

Consultants who specialise in technology have won the unenviable title of being the professionals most likely to provide “damaging advice” to businesses.

In fact, a study shows that the biggest chunk of firms whose operations have been adversely affected by “deficient” advice in the last 12 months blamed IT consultants.

These techies also caused “the greatest issue” for the 44% of affected firms, which suffered side-effects like losing clients or scaling back growth plans, found Direct Line for Business, the study author.  

After IT consultants, management consultants were the next most complained about advisory professionals due to the unwanted impact they had on firms, followed by marketing experts.

Legal consultants emerged as the least likely source of bad advice with just 6% of the firms pointing the finger at them, compared with 9% who found fault with accountants.  

All of the providers of advisory services (eight featured in the study in total) were warned that they could be pursued for losses incurred as a result of giving substandard advice.