Emmanuel Goutallier, Partner in charge of the Asia Pacific Regional Community (APAC) answered a few questions Edmund Tadros, leads the Australian Financial Review coverage of the professional services sector had about onepoint.
The boss of the local arm of French technology consulting firm onepoint says it has reinvented the professional services business model and stopped staff turnover and spiralling costs by slashing the number of management levels to just three.
Jettisoning the traditional “up or out” promotion system onepoint, a French-headquartered technology strategy and delivery company, has just three types of consultants – associate, leaders and partners – who work across a range of specialist “communities” to deliver services. Australian boss Emmanuel Goutallier said the arrangement had reduced staff turnover and operating costs.
“Over the past 30 years, the consulting industry perpetuated a hierarchical model” with “career progression based on an ‘up or out’ approach”, said Mr Goutallier, a partner executive.
‘The Y/Z generations are disrupting the status quo, demanding to continuously expand their expertise in a less controlling and more networked organisation.”
The up or out approach, common at many consulting firms, requires consultants to reach a certain rank within a certain period of time; those unable to do so leave the organisation.
The Melboume-based consultant said the firm’s turnover was about 9 per cent, compared with the 13.4 per cent rate of the wider business and professional services sector.
The firm also has a high employee satisfaction rating – Mr Goutallier pointed to the average 4.6 out of five rating for onepoint on the company review site Glassdoor.