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Are MBB management or strategy consulting firms?

Hi guys, 

Pretty basic question but one that I seem to have tripped myself up over, and couldn't find a clear answer online. Just want to make sure I don't get this wrong for interviews and come across as if I don't know anything about what I'm applying to. 

Thanks!

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Top answer
Pedro
Coach
on Oct 26, 2021
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

The right terminology is Top Management Consulting or Strategy Consulting. They are board advisors at heart, and they help C-Level executives plan and execute their business strategies (where to play, how to win, how to transform the business)

This is different from Management Consulting because this one caters mostly to middle-management issues (i.e. running the day-to-day business, operational improvement).

Please note that not only MBBs do strategy consulting, Tier 2 consulting firms (focusing on top management consulting) do that as well.

Ian
Coach
on Oct 26, 2021
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

It's important to clarify so good on you for checking!

MBB are strategy consulting firms - they advise on the general strategy of firms (as opposed to management consulting firms that actually support implementation). That said, MBB are starting to “dabble”, in particular when supporting multi-year digital transformations.

on Oct 26, 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi!

MBB firms are top strategy consultancies but they are also involved in management consulting. The same applies also to some tier 2 companies.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Anto 

Agrim
Coach
on Oct 26, 2021
#1 Awarded Coach | BCG Dubai Project Leader | Master Casing in only 3 Hours | 10y in Consulting | Free Intro Call

Colloquially - both options work just as fine.

Technically - strategy consulting is the better option since most of the time MBB create strategies and don't implement them as much.

Generally - stick to simply ‘consulting’ eh?

Clara
Coach
on Oct 27, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Strategy consulting!

however, don´t worry, they won´t be asking questions along these lines what so ever!

Cheers, 

Clara

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