Institutionalization of Consulting Research: Review and Comparison of Two Approaches in Germany Over the Period 2007–2017

Abstract

In an assessment of the German research community some 10 years ago, we realized that there was virtually no institutionalization in research on consulting. As an immediate consequence of this unsatisfactory situation we decided, together with others, to lay the foundations of two institutions on Consulting Research with slightly different focus and degree of formalism. One of them is still operational, the other one not. In our contribution, we highlight these developments and discuss why it was a rocky road to reach the goal of a better institutionalization of Consulting Research in Germany, and what appears necessary to improve further on the current situation.