THE ROLE OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: THE INDISSOLUBLE NATURE OF SOCIO‐POLITICAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS*

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper explores the role of management consultants in the development of information technology (IT) in organizations. Contending that the process of IT systems development is characterized by the exercise of power, the central theme of the argument concerns the indissoluble nature of the technical and socio‐political skills inherent in IT consultancy practice. IT consultancy practice is not just socio‐political when winning a contract ‐ the sales pitch ‐ and technical when developing an IT system. Rather, socio‐political skills centred on the mobilization of discursive and symbolic resources are an inherent part of the construction of such systems.