Abstract:
In our country Nigeria, there has been a massive business failures due to lack of finance, unfavorable government policies, inefficiencies on the part of the management, shortage of raw materials, rapid technological changes etc. Management consultants in this country have been rendering their professional expertise services to industrial establishments to help them solve some of these problems. The aim of this research is to find out the extent industrial establishments in Aba zone of Abia State have been using the services and factors that prevent them from using the services. In carrying out the research, both primary and secondary sources of data were used. The primary data were collected using oral interview and questionnaires. Managers and management consultants were interviewed In constructing the questionnaire, multiple, dichotomous and open ended questions were used. The population of the sampled size was based on the figures compiled by Abia State Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The sample size was determined based on the population figure. Descriptive method was used in analyzing the data. It was concluded that some industrial establishments in Aba zone of Abia State were reluctant in using the management consultancy services. The establishments were reluctant because of high fees charged by the management consultant, low quality of the services of management consultants, industrial espionage, presence of internal management consultant, lack of understanding of the benefits that will accrue to companies for making use of management consultancy services by management of different companies and negative perceptions of the manager or management about the management consultants. Based on the findings, recommendations were made in order to remedy the situation. Management consultants should improve on the quality of their services, charge fees that are commensurate to their services, embark on public enlightenment campaign about their profession, keep their clients business information secret. . Also the industrial establishments should call in the consultants on time, make available all the necessary information that will help the consultants carry out their duty efficiently and effectively. They should call in the consultants to interprete or help in applying his recommendations of solutions when and where necessary.
