[ghaff]

Worked with McKinsey once as a senior product manager at a computer company. The partner was sharp as was one of his associates; the other one not so much. But they talked to a lot of people. Basically, they created a big spreadsheet that kept our business planning people busy and off our backs. And told senior management that we knew what we were doing (which we did).

Yes, it was expensive but it kept the company afloat/independent for a few years longer which is about all you can ask.

>There is no reason companies need to pay external consultants crazy amounts of money for this kind of service.

I think there's always a degree of suspicion that the person from internal audit or HR can really be trusted vs. an external consultant.