Hi allI would be interested to learn more about any strategy consulting companies that focus upon the publishing/information/media industry. So far, companies that interest me are OC&C, Monitor Group, Spectrum, Strategic Decisions Group, Diamondcluster. Asides from the first two on list (I feel I already have a good understanding of where they stand in the market) would anyone be able to comment on the reputation/work-life balance/pay etc of the following three. Particularly Spectrum. Are there any other companies which I might have missed off my list? Trying to find consultancies which specialise in the area that really interests me, has been surprisingly hard! Many thanks in advance for any help!

The provision of strategic consultancy to the publishing/information/media industry is a very fragmented market. It is a hard task to compile a target list! My advice would therefore be as follows:1.) Start with an objective list of all those in the marketplace. Detail all the companies that fit into the description that you gave in your first sentence. Obviously you will need to draw the line somewhere but if you start getting too subjective early on you might miss some out (afterall they might simply be less well known right now). There are various segments:a) Essentially pure strategic consultancies active in this industry - probably resembles your listb) Consultancies that offer strategic consulting as part of their offering, and are active in this industry. Example - Accenturec) Marketing consultancies that offer strategic consulting as part of their offering to this industry (they tend to offer strategic marketing consulting rather than advice on strategic operations). Example - www.wpp.com go to services section. You will probably need to research this segment the most using a directory, and sift through numerous companies that you might well end up disregarding. Amongst them though a few might stand out (e.g. specialist consultancies with a few very sizeable/high profile clients) that should not necessarily be disregarded. 2) Then you can start applying your other criteria and getting subjective. For example what do you mean by focus? To some people this might mean that a consultancy simply consults in this industry, to others it might mean that this industry represents a sizeable proportion of consulting revenues, whereas other people might use it to suggest it is their most importaint sector. Can't really help you on reputation/pay/work-life, other than to say that OC&C/DC/MG probably have better reputations. The Times do surveys on things like best companies to work for etc. Ultimately asking consultants at interview is often the best way. Don't get me wrong I think you have a good list but if you go through the process again it might get even better. Good luck!