Many businesses equate security, experience and know-how with using large companies such as the big 5 (or is it 4 now?) for their change management programmes. What they haven't considered are the benefits they are missing out on by not using a smaller, more specialised consultancy like Corporate Chameleon. Let us dispel a few myths, which will help you see through the smoke and mirrors ...   experience Many of the consultants from larger companies came straight from the milk round after university, you can't always be sure that your change programme will be executed with the experience you would expect. It's also commonplace to have more experienced consultants win your business and then further down the line have a younger "greener" consultant take over. After all, they've got to build up that all-important experience somehow! Remember, smaller companies can't often afford to train up inexperienced consultants so you can almost always guarantee that they provide people with practical ability and industry experience every time. Most of the consultants in smaller consultancies have already built up their experience from working at larger consultancies. Which means that they've been there and done it, so they have the experience necessary but are also able to work with more flexibility and at lower rates, without the burden of a large bureaucracy.   expert networks Our modern approach to service means that we provide a specially formed team to fit your needs exactly. By building a network of experts we bring our resources together only when they are required on your project, which saves you money twice over. We don't pass our overheads onto you by employing resources full-time that could be under-utilised and we don't charge you for resources when they are not working on your project.   cost We all tend to associate quality with cost, which is what the bigger consultancies depend on to justify their larger fees. Consider this: smaller companies have smaller overheads and as they are often trying to entice new customers to "trust" their level of experience they have to make the cost enticing too. In the case of the smaller consultancy you often get a lot more value and experience for your money. As a smaller consultancy we just couldn't viably charge the rates that the brand-name firms demand but we know that we can match, and indeed beat them, in terms of service and results.   quality As a smaller consultancy we have to provide a high quality service to survive, we can't depend on our name (quirky as it is) to attract customers, so we need to make sure that you'll keep coming back. This is why we assign a separate Account Manager (at no extra cost) to deal with all the non-project elements of your contract, which means you get a full-time consultant (not a part-time administrator) and exceptional value for money.   security With few overheads and a flexibility to be envied by the large consultancies, whom would you feel safer with? The Facts: Despite a predicted turnover growth rate of 16-18% CMG is cutting 470 staff in the UK & Ireland. Will your consultant still be around? (source:- Management Consultants' News Direct - Issue 221001, Monday, October 22, 2001)   Accenture cut 1000 consultants jobs and has allowed another 1,000 consultants to take sabbaticals of up to 12 months on 20 per cent of their salaries and postponed the arrival of 400 new graduates for 3 months. Will your consultant even arrive? (source:- Financial Times; Oct 20, 2001 By JIM PICKARD and MICHAEL SKAPINKER)   PWC plans to cut more than 2000 jobs this year. Will one of them be your consultant? (source:- Financial Times; Oct 20, 2001 By JIM PICKARD and MICHAEL SKAPINKER) The forecasted recession is exactly when change management will be needed most and the leaner and meaner smaller consultancies are just right to deliver it. We're simply not going to experience the problems that the major consultancies are already falling victim to. The job losses suffered, reduced turnover and restricted spending will take their toll on their remaining staff - lower morale throughout the organisation reflects on the work that is delivered to you! Who is really the safer bet for your change management projects?