Revealing a Consulting Client's Name

We've just posted an update to the "Our Clients" section of the Consulting Intelligence website.

Helping an organization resolve problems or issues relating to their use of external consultants or other professional services firms is the reason we exist.

We may help an organization locate an appropriate consultant and then assist them in negotiating their contract. We can also provide ongoing advice and counsel as the consulting engagement unfolds.

In other cases, a client engages us in to help them understand, acquire and use best practices for dealing with consultants. In these cases, we can provide various ways for them to access and benefit from our proprietary Consultelligence(sm) knowledgebase of best practices. We can also develop a plan to quickly transfer updates to our best practice knowledge directly to their internal team.

Often though, we're brought into difficult situations where the bond of trust between the client and their consultant has been eroded. Some situations could be characterized as "strained" at best. The project may be seriously behind the agreed to timelines or perhaps way over the original budget. Communication between the parties may be suffering as a result; or may have broken down completely.

These can be difficult -- and potentially dangerous -- times for any organization. When things are not going well, the last thing an organization wants is news of their problems to be widely known. At such times, the most important thing is to get the project back on track -- if it can be rescued -- or killed off quietly. Swift and decisive measures, conducted in a discreet manner are called for. We understand this.

To protect our client's interests in those difficult situations, the news of which might negatively impact an organization's reputation, we have adopted a simple approach to publicly identifying our clients. Our policy is consistent, regardless of the services we provide an organization.

Consulting Intelligence does not disclose the names of its clients. If asked, we will neither confirm nor deny that an organization is -- or has ever been -- a client of our firm.

We recognize the value of being considered a trusted advisor to our clients. We take that trust -- and the responsibility that goes with it -- very seriously.

Given the type of special kind of consulting practice we have, this is how we address the issue of publicly identifying our clients. Would you do it any differently?