Strategy Work in Transition

Strategy Work in Transition

A Cardea Study about the Evolving Roles Between Corporates and Consulting Companies – and the Impact of AI

Background and Objectives

This research provides data-driven insights into how companies and consulting firms actually think and operate, going beyond marketing narratives. It is based on anonymized interviews and a robust methodological approach

Why this study matters

Strategy consulting is a multi-billion market at an inflection point.

The study highlights how industry dynamics are shifting, with implications for providers, clients, and investors

Senior executives are seeking clarity in a landscape shaped by execution pressure and AI hype

The findings offer practical insights into emerging strategy patterns from leading organizations

A new management reality is emerging

Strategy work is becoming increasingly hybrid, combining human expertise, organizational capabilities, and machine intelligence. The integration of AI into decision-making will be a defining theme in the coming years

Key Insights

Strategy processes are undergoing a fundamental shift. Increasingly, organizations aim to take greater ownership of core activities such as analysis, strategy development, and execution, while leveraging external consulting support in a more targeted and modular way.

This shift is redefining how value is created on both sides and raises important questions around future role allocation and collaboration models. At the same time, technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, are opening up new ways to structure, accelerate, and scale strategic work.

What the study delivers

FOR CORPORATE EXECUTIVES

A target vision for modern strategy work integrating organizational design, strategy development, governance, and execution into a cohesive model
Guidance for make–buy–automate decisions, clarifying which capabilities should be built internally, enhanced through AI, or sourced externally
Principles for effective AI adoption, Identifying where AI can generate tangible strategic value
A sourcing playbook for consulting services: How to engage external partners in a focused, impact-driven, and cost-effective way.

FOR STRATEGY CONSULTANTS

The transformation of strategy consulting– where consulting firms create value today and how that value proposition is evolving
Shifting roles and expectations across companies, consultants, and AI: Understanding how client expectations toward consulting are changing
Implications for consulting business models: Impact on positioning, delivery models, and capability development

Order Form

This study targets trategy leaders, transformation executives, HR and operations leaders, and in-house consultants on the corporate side; as well as partners, project leads, and experts from strategy, transformation, and organizational consulting firms.