The Hackett Group Reviews in Atlanta, GA Area

Pros

Excellent project management. Every project I worked on finished on time and on budget, with high customer satisfaction. The project managers know what they are doing.

Cons

Poor marketing. Senior management (CEO, President) shifted strategy away from project work to subscriptions, leaving a lot of good business on the table. The senior folks were rigid when reviewing some very worthwhile projects, losing them to other companies even though the projects would have produced significant cash flow.

Advice to Senior Management

Set up a structure to take advantage of the opportunities in project work.

Pros

Best practices methodology, Fortune 100 clientele, global presence, experienced leadership who focuses on only bottom-line results (at the expense of field staff)

Cons

Leadership blinded toward activities in the field that affect employee morale and turnover. Giving "credit where credit is due" is not a prevailing philosophy among Senior Directors and Vice Presidents - - consulting managers and directors continually thrown under a moving bus. Feedback for improvement is not appreciated by leadership. Intimidation is common and professional behavior absent. The PMP program is ineffective and is not taken seriously by those who are responsible.

Advice to Senior Management

Take a hard look at the Senior Director and Vice Presidents - - most do not practice the Company philosophy and are only interested in billing the client for as much as they can get away with.

Pros

industry leader in benchmarking - tons of data

Cons

low salaries, management doesn't communicate, benchmarking, transformation and REL and Advisory..don't connect well
public company whereas competitors are private, competition in benchmarking increasing

Advice to Senior Management

go private, communicate better with employees, cost cutting should not always mean laying off ppl

Pros

The company hires extremely bright people. The company has a great amount of unique intellectual property so its a great learning environment.

Cons

Long term strategy seems to change on a regular basis. The company is always trying to catch the next trend, unfortunately its often a day late and a dollar short.

Advice to Senior Management

Determine what your competitive advantages and disadvantages are in the market place, come up with a strategy that fits and then stick to it.

Pros

Highly skilled co-workers, Strong Data/IP repository, work with leading companies around the world

Cons

Only real recognition seems to go to people that are involved in a sale. Large amount of turnover, both employees leaving on their own and through layoffs.

Advice to Senior Management

Not everyone can be a superstar. Your least experienced employees can have a huge impact on your clients. Make sure that you are treating them well. Recognize the talent that you have within the organization and find ways to promote them into increasing levels of responsibility.

Pros

Ability to work from home

Cons

Lackluster colleagues; incompetent management; a mess!!! Let me tell you this company really sucks. Everyone has an opinion, but no one can execute. Lots of smoke and mirrors.

Advice to Senior Management

The only thing senior about management is their age!

Pros

They will hand a project over to you and trust you to handle things. They are more open to sending employees to training classes than other employers. In general this company doesn't get too hung up on expense costs.

Cons

They are reluctant to approve vacation days, and this is too bad because there is a use it or lose it policy. The benefits plan is weak. There is a bonus plan, but the details of it are murky. Basically it is up to your manager.
It takes a little time to get up to speed on internal company procedures. There is supposedly a mentor system, but in reality you are on your own.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't treat employees as replaceable cogs in the machine to hire and lay off as the business cycle goes up and down.

Pros

Independence with moderate supervision by management.

Cons

Management says one thing and practices another. Does not back up announced changes in procedures after indicating that this is the policy going forward across the board.

Advice to Senior Management

Get on the same page!

Pros

Work life Balance with the abiilty to work from home at least 2 to 3 days out of the week. They have absolutely no problem with associates or consultant working from home.

Cons

Lack of communication from management. There is no real structure on how they actually develop their consultants other than giving the generic "her or she is not ready". They will continue to use your services but fail to provide adequater bonuses or pay to coincide with the extra work. They have failed to properly gernerate a talent management system to help their associates and consultants develop. Needs stronger managment starting with the C-suite.

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate to employer regarding talent management and training.

Pros

Name of the company and someplace to cut your teeth.

Cons

Heartless with sleazy management. Unimpressive talent across the board and unimpressive talent management.

Advice to Senior Management

Respect your employees and their abilities rather than only watching the bottom line.