| Abstract [eng] |
The main purpose of this thesis is to create an advanced information management model for management consulting companies, which would help companies to ensure successful information management. This thesis begins with a literature overview, which analysis a number of researches conducted regarding information management, specifics of management consulting companies and information management in intellectual services companies. Afterwards the aim and tasks of the thesis as well as the methodology of the research are described. In this research qualitative research methodology is chosen. In this thesis author has conducted 5 qualitative interviews with the representatives from 5 international management consulting companies that operates in Lithuania. Interviews covered the following topics related to information management: IT tools, structuring of information, access rights management, motivation programmes, additional tools for information management, informational needs of the companies and success factors for advanced information management in business consulting companies. Results of interviews were analysed using text analytics software Atlas.ti. As a result, author has created networks of phrases from the most commons answers showing phrases from the interviews and their connections. Networks were created regarding each of the analysed topics. After analyzing the interviews, the author has evaluated the maturity of information management in all 5 companies and developed a model from a combination of rules, identifying what has to be satisfied in order to have successful information management in the consulting company. Analysis has showed that each of the analysed companies have IT tools for information management: an online sharing platform for projects files and an IT system for summaries and other types of structured information about the projects. What is more, author has identified that each of the respondents have the access rights to the projects controlled so that some employees would be restrained from accessing specific information. Furthermore, analysis showed that only one of the analysed companies have implemented motivational system for knowledge sharing; yet each of the respondents agreed that motivating employees is important in order to succeed in information management. What is more, all respondents claimed that there are quite a few additional tools used to enable knowledge sharing. These include mainly international meetings, trainings, newsletters and experience sharing sessions. In the end of the thesis author describes the success factors that according to the respondents help to enable information management in consulting companies. Later on the author has combined the factors into a set of rules for successful information management in management consulting companies. Model consists of four parts: IT tools, structured process, motivational system and culture of the organization. It means that each of these parts have to be covered in order to have a successful information management: company should have functional tools, structured process (including rules and administration), should have a motivational system for each level of employees and a supporting culture of the organization. Yet, author also identifies several factors that can prevent companies from succeeding in information management. These include: significant proportion of confidential projects, limited time when information is relevant, uniqueness of the projects and major rotation of employees that can ease the loss of valuable information. These factors can quite significantly disturb the information management process in management consulting companies. Therefore, each company should individually evaluate potential benefits and costs before investing into the system. |
