Hi, I'm about to start at a Big 4 grad scheme doing management consultancy. Within the programme, there is the opportunity to Strategy consulting which i want to get into. I know there is talk of smaller strategy firms like Booz (already acquired by PWC) being acquired by the Big 4. What are the key differences in strategy within the Big 4 and pure strat firms like Mckinsey etc? Exception being the clients. In addition, what are some of the exit ops?

Big 4 strategy consulting is usually a pre-cursor to more operational work (wherein lies the volume, therefrom comes the growth). So, expect a strong "so what?" element to your work - with the follow-on being found and expected in a "package" from that firm...Pure plays play the name game - few will question a market entry strategy from McKinsey. Allows them to be "strategic" and walk away putting all the success on the implementer. However it's with the Big 4 that the true work volume lies...

so much dosh in the big 4

The pure play strategy offering is one being rapidly eroded, certainly in mature markets - hence the trend towards moving downstream into operational work across the strat firms. They will still have their place, but as Arby says, as part of a value chain which needs to include operational work.

From what's been said, does that mean that companies within mature markets are leaning more towards the Big 4 for work?