Word-class management consultants continue to share their accomplishments and vision of the development of the market with their colleagues - the consultants of the CMC-Ukraine community.

“Future of Management Consulting and Artificial Intelligence” - this is the topic presented to the consultants of CMC-Ukraine by Sorin Caian - our world-famous colleague, CMC, Senior Partner within BDO Romania, former Chairman of the ICMCI.

“Is there a future for us in the profession? What will happen to us (management consultants)? Is it a New Era, or is it just a normal development?” - these are the questions Sorin Caian started his presentation with.

Today, global changes which are related to the usage of Artificial Intelligence have an impact on all sectors of the economy, including management consulting. Undoubtedly, new products which are created under the influence of Artificial Intelligence Technologies have a certain benefit for management consultants. However, the farther we go, the more acutely the questions of ethics arise.

According to Mr. Caian’s words, we are living in times when everything changes so fast, that it seems that we cannot keep up with it and sometimes we feel as if we have lost control over reality. Data which now can be used and operated by the tools of Artificial Intelligence is important, because of the fact that it is able to help businesses and organizations make more informed decisions by identifying trends, patterns of behavior and areas for improvement. At the same time, concerns about privacy are raised in the world.

Mr Caian continues: “Nowadays, we are faced with the fact that technologies develop much faster than we are able to design a frame. That means that ethics, acceptability and so on will be very, very difficult to model.”

Mr. Caian shared his own vision, personal observations, long-term life and work experience concerning management consulting in a period of global changes:

“A consultant should create added value. We should know how to use something that technology can do.

Globalization needs knowledge and understanding of diversity. We cannot live in our sphere isolated by others, because they can become much more efficient than we are. We have to understand what we are and what others are doing and try benefits. 

Innovation is a must.

Nowadays, customers want to see a partner in a consultant, not an advisor.

Our profession has to re-invent itself faster than any other one. We should know a lot of things in advance.

There are two main attributes - professionalism and ethics. Ethics is something that is still in advantage compared to machines, since machines do not face any ethical problems and have to be honest in line with the information they have.

Communication skills, presentation skills and influencing skills will continue to be the drivers in the profession of management consultant.

Specialism will not go without a wide approach - multidisciplinary approach will prevail.

The problem is not AI, but what you are making with the use of it! And this is where consultants should best perform! Based on experience, knowledge, professionalism and ethics.

There is still room for our profession in the future. We have to adapt to what is going on, we have to be among the best users of the technological advancements. AI is not able to get outside its algorithm, which was created by us. We should know how to use it, and how to use it fast - in a way that helps us to provide the right things.

We should always remember about ethics. Without ethics - we cannot be real consultants,” - Sorin Caian summarized.

High professional standards and code of ethics are the foundation of our profession. In particular right now, during this hard period of crisis, we have no right to lower our requirements for ourselves.

We believe that the consultants of the community will have more than one work meeting dedicated to this topic. Sorin Caian’s experience and valuable position are a good landmark for those who consider using AI in the professional activities.