What Does an IT Strategy Consultant Do? Useful Certifications and Skills Explained

“What kind of work does an IT strategy consultant do?” “What skills are required?” If you have these questions, this article is for you.

In this article, we’ll explain the answers to those questions in the following order:

• What IT strategy consultants do
• The rewarding aspects of being an IT strategy consultant
• The future prospects of IT strategy consultants

This article is useful for anyone interested in becoming an IT strategy consultant. Please read to the end.

What Is IT Strategy?

IT strategy refers to a plan or policy that defines how a company will use IT to achieve its business goals.

IT stands for Information Technology, and is a collective term for technologies that handle information. From information devices such as personal computers and smartphones to transportation IC cards, its scope is extremely broad and has become indispensable to our daily lives.

In today’s digital society, companies are also required to leverage IT to improve efficiency. IT is widely adopted not only by large corporations but also by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, when introducing IT, it is necessary to carefully plan in a way that actually leads to problem resolution.

This is where IT strategy and IT strategy consultants become essential.

What IT Strategy Consultants Do

The main responsibilities of an IT strategy consultant are the following four:

Let’s take a closer look at each of these responsibilities.

Analysis of the Current Situation

In order to formulate an appropriate IT strategy, it is first important to understand and analyze the current state of the client company. By analyzing the current situation, it becomes possible to identify areas for improvement related to operational efficiency and productivity.

In addition to analyzing the client company’s internal situation, it is also necessary to analyze the surrounding environment.

Specifically, this includes market trends, industry trends, and the competitive landscape. The “3C Analysis,” considered a fundamental marketing analysis tool, helps identify key success factors by sequentially analyzing the market/customers, the company itself, and competitors.

Formulating Management and IT Strategies

Before formulating an IT strategy, it is necessary to understand the company’s vision and management strategy. Make sure to clearly understand what kind of corporate growth the client company is seeking before drawing up a plan.

Based on the analysis of the current situation, specific measures are proposed. Elements of IT strategy include technology selection and implementation support, project schedule management, and security measures.

Additionally, budget and resource management are also critical. Formulating an IT strategy that aligns as closely as possible with the client’s wishes is the most central task of an IT consultant.

Executing and Supporting Strategies

IT strategy consultants do not let the strategies they formulate remain mere theoretical plans. They create specific IT system implementation and improvement plans and support everything from vendor selection and project management to embedding changes within the organization.

They play a vital role in accompanying the client until the transformation is reliably executed and results are achieved within the client’s organization.

Researching the Latest IT Information

IT is a field with particularly rapid advances.

It is necessary to continuously acquire knowledge and know-how about new technologies. Staying informed about the latest IT technologies expands your options and enables you to propose more appropriate improvement measures.

Challenges of Being an IT Strategy Consultant

While IT strategy consultants help companies solve IT-related challenges, there are also some difficult aspects to the job. Let’s look at the specific aspects that tend to feel “tough” before making a career change.

Workload Spikes at the Start of Projects

Consulting is often said to be a demanding profession. One reason for this is that the workload tends to surge at the start of a project.

Required tasks are wide-ranging, including document preparation and meetings with consultants. Especially when multiple projects overlap, working hours can become quite long.

You may also be asked to work on weekends to accommodate client schedules. There is a possibility of sacrificing work-life balance, which may feel burdensome for some people, particularly those who lack physical stamina.

The Constant Need to Gather New Information

Consultants need to keep an eye on market trends and competitor developments. The task of gathering new information follows you at all times, even when there are no busy projects, which can give the impression of never being able to fully rest.

This tendency is especially pronounced in the rapidly changing IT field, where you must continuously stay up to date with the latest information.

High Pressure Due to a Talented Peer Group

Consulting tends to attract highly talented individuals, partly because of its high salaries. The required level of performance is also high. As a result, people who tend to compare themselves with others can easily burn out from the competition.

Consulting firms tend to be meritocratic rather than seniority-based, and results are often clearly reflected in job titles and salaries.

This means that the gap between you and other employees can be quite visible. The consulting industry also has a deeply ingrained meritocratic culture, and it can be a profession where the choice of “up or out” (promote or leave) looms large. For those who prefer to work at their own pace or who prioritize maintaining the status quo, this can be a challenging industry.

Leaving Consulting Often Means a Pay Cut

Consultants are generally said to earn relatively high salaries. Many earn over 10 million yen annually, and even junior consultants often receive substantial pay.

For this reason, if you ever want to leave consulting, there is a high likelihood that your income will decrease after changing jobs. It is not uncommon for people who try to leave the consulting industry to return because of the income difference.

The Rewarding Aspects of Being an IT Strategy Consultant

While the work of an IT strategy consultant can be demanding, it also offers significant rewards. Here we explain the rewarding aspects that IT strategy consultants can experience.

A Strong Sense of Accomplishment from High-Difficulty Work

IT strategy consultants can derive a great sense of accomplishment from tackling highly challenging work.

The issues that client companies bring to consulting firms are all challenges they could not solve on their own, making them highly complex. The more difficult it is to derive the right proposal or solution, the greater the sense of achievement when you successfully resolve the issue.

You get to leverage your own analytical skills and creativity to engage with the core of a business. The IT technology you introduce can continue to be used long into the future, leaving a lasting impact on the client company.

Easier to Develop High-Level Skills

Because many talented people work in consulting, you can develop high-level skills by competing and learning alongside them. Placing yourself in a highly competitive environment becomes a powerful motivator for growth.

The benefit is that you can aim for continuous growth in an environment where falling behind is not an option. The skills required of consultants are wide-ranging, from communication skills to logical thinking and problem-solving ability.

You also get to interact directly with senior management as clients, which allows you to learn firsthand about real-world thinking in management. This experience is valuable whether you continue working as a consultant, transition to an industry company, or start your own business.

Opportunities to Work Globally

Consultants are often given opportunities to be involved in international companies and their projects. Many professionals develop a global perspective and are active across the world.

In the case of foreign-affiliated consulting firms, you can also improve your cross-cultural communication skills within the organization itself.

Skills Required for IT Strategy Consultants

The main skills required for an IT strategy consultant are the following five:

Let’s look at how each of these skills proves useful in practice.

Communication Skills

The first and most important skill for a consultant is communication ability.

In order to formulate an appropriate IT strategy, it is first essential to accurately understand the client’s needs. The “listening ability” that is part of communication skills will be required. It leads to building trust and thoroughly understanding the other party’s needs.

Next, when presenting an IT strategy to the client, “speaking ability” is necessary. The ability to construct a concise, logically structured talk and the ability to speak in a way that engages people are required. Rather than embellishing, it is important to maintain a two-way communication approach and adopt the attitude of working together to find solutions.

It is also necessary to maintain good interpersonal relationships within the company. Communication skills, required in a variety of situations, can be said to be extremely important for a consultant.

IT Knowledge

IT knowledge is absolutely essential for IT strategy consultants. Given their role as advisors to clients, they are required to have not just basic knowledge but a deep understanding of IT.

Among IT strategy consultants, there are many who have transitioned from working as engineers before joining a consulting firm. Many possess skills and specialist knowledge related to systems, such as design and development. To compete alongside such consultants, it is necessary to continuously acquire IT knowledge.

Since the area of challenge differs from client to client, it would be beneficial to acquire additional new knowledge as required by each project.

Ability to Work in a Team

Consulting is also a profession that often involves working in teams. In addition to communication skills, deepening discussions while respecting the opinions of other team members leads to the creation of new perspectives.

Problem-Solving Skills

A consultant’s primary job is to resolve the problems faced by clients while taking into account the analyzed situation and the client’s needs. Therefore, problem-solving skills are extremely important.

In recent consulting firms, rather than simply presenting a strategy, there are many cases where the strategy is put into practice and feedback is obtained. It is necessary to identify multiple challenges within a single strategy and continue to make improvements. Here too, applying problem-solving skills allows for more efficient delivery of results.

Management Skills

Management refers to the tools and functions used to achieve organizational goals. Management skills, specifically, refer to abilities such as “goal management ability” and “the ability to identify the right person for the right role.”

During consulting work, it is not uncommon to become a leader who directs team members and the client company’s members. Having management skills in such situations allows you to advance a project without delays.

Who Is Suited to Become an IT Strategy Consultant

IT strategy consultants are specialists in solving management challenges for companies through IT, and people with certain aptitudes and thinking styles are well-suited for the role. Here we explain the characteristics of people suited to become IT strategy consultants.

People with a Strong Sense of Responsibility

A sense of responsibility is indispensable for consultants. Clients are in a difficult situation due to problems they face, and not only are they paying for appropriate consulting, but they are often also disclosing confidential internal information.

This is a job suited for people who feel a strong drive to deliver results in order to meet client expectations. If you tend to approach work carelessly, it will undermine the trust clients have placed in you. Keeping appointments, maintaining proper reporting and communication, and not cutting corners on projects are the bare minimum requirements to keep in mind.

In the meritocratic consulting industry, there are cases where clients may request a change of consultant, which can also stall your own career. You need to approach your work with the mindset of being a professional in your field.

People Who Can Keep Thinking

Consulting is an intense and physically demanding profession, but strong mental stamina to keep thinking is often required as well. As mentioned earlier, the consulting industry is extremely competitive and fast-changing.

To survive in such an industry, it is necessary to continuously acquire new knowledge and think through how to apply it. In addition, the challenges you are given are often highly complex, and solutions do not come easily with just a little thought. This role is recommended for people who can keep thinking without giving up, even when faced with obstacles.

People Who Are Not Perfectionists

People who tend to cut corners on projects are not suited for consulting. On the other hand, those with perfectionist tendencies may also not be a good fit. Consulting work requires swift decision-making, so perfectionists may sometimes fail to meet deadlines.

Rather than aiming for perfection, it can be said that the industry tends to favor aiming for maximum results within the constraints of a given workload. There may also be cases where negotiating differing opinions with team members causes stress.

Certifications Useful for IT Strategy Consultants

While no specific certification is strictly required to work as an IT strategy consultant, there are several certifications that are advantageous to hold.

Let’s explain what skills each certification demonstrates.

Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination

The Fundamental Information Technology Engineer certification can be obtained by passing an examination administered by the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA). It provides practical knowledge and skills for formulating strategies that leverage IT and for building systems.

It is also known as the entry-level gateway certification for IT engineers. As it covers foundational IT knowledge, it is recommended for those considering obtaining a certification for the first time, or those who have limited knowledge of IT. Since questions are drawn from not only the technology domain but also from management and strategy domains, it demonstrates broad knowledge across multiple fields.

Project Management Professional (PMP)

The Project Management Professional (PMP) is an internationally recognized certification in project management granted by the Project Management Institute (PMI) headquarters.

While it is not a legal license, it is an internationally recognized qualification and is highly recommended for those looking to work globally. It provides a systematic approach to managing work and improving operational efficiency. It also allows you to join the PMI community and expand your professional network.

Certified Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant (Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi)

The Certified Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant is a specialist who diagnoses and advises on management challenges facing SMEs. It requires passing both a written examination and an oral examination.

Since many companies advancing IT adoption are SMEs, having specialized knowledge of SME management challenges enables you to provide more appropriate proposals.

Furthermore, as a national qualification registered by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, it is easier to gain trust from clients.

Career Paths for IT Strategy Consultants

IT strategy consultants can pursue a variety of career paths as they accumulate experience. It is possible not only to deepen one’s specialization but also to play an active role in a broader range of fields.

Here we introduce some specific examples of career paths.

Advancing Your Career Within a Consulting Firm

Consultants have various titles such as Manager and Partner. Since promotion is based on results and years of service, aiming for higher positions within the same consulting firm is one career path.

The consulting industry is also characterized by a high frequency of job changes for career advancement. Another career path is moving to a consulting firm in the same field and aiming for a better position.

Transitioning to a Strategy Consultant

While working as an IT strategy consultant, some people develop an interest in general problem-solving beyond just IT. A common career path for such individuals is transitioning to a strategy consultant.

Strategy consultants receive inquiries about business planning and new business launches, and provide recommendations. The scope of work is wide-ranging, from matters relating to overall company direction to highly specialized areas such as recruitment and accounting.

While the focus shifts away from IT-specific consulting, the basic workflow of formulating strategies to solve corporate problems remains the same. Most of the skills cultivated as an IT strategy consultant can be applied directly.

Becoming a CIO and Getting Involved in Management

Not limited to IT strategy consultants, a common career destination for consultants is industry companies (non-consulting businesses). It is not uncommon for consultants who have been supporting corporate management strategies to develop an interest in management itself.

There are also cases of becoming executives as a CIO (Chief Information Officer). The experience gained from working with management-level clients and learning their approach to leadership can be put to good use.

Why IT Strategy Consultants Have Strong Future Prospects

Demand for IT strategy consultants is growing, making it a profession with strong future prospects. Here we introduce two reasons why it is considered to have high future potential.

Labor Shortages Due to an Aging and Declining Population

In recent years, Japanese society as a whole has been struggling with labor shortages caused by a declining working-age population due to an aging population and falling birthrate. Improving productivity is key to achieving higher management targets with limited human resources.

To that end, it is necessary to start improving from simple tasks and routine work. As attention to IT adoption continues to increase, demand for IT strategy consultants is also rising.

Growing Demand Among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

While labor shortages are widely discussed, SMEs in particular tend to be unable to secure sufficient human resources. Many find themselves struggling with questions like “We want to introduce IT, but we don’t know where to start” or “We don’t know how to formulate a strategy.”

This is where IT strategy consultants come in. An effective approach is to support clients in introducing IT in small steps. For example, starting with IT adoption in the accounting department, where cloud services are well-developed, is easy to implement, and the effects are easy to see, so there tends to be little resistance.

For consultants, SMEs offer the advantage of having fewer layers of management, which means faster decision-making and faster action. With the momentum of IT adoption among SMEs accelerating, IT strategy consultants are in high demand and represent a profession with strong future prospects.

Differences Between IT Strategy Consultants and Other Types of Consultants

Similar professions to IT strategy consulting include PMO and strategy consulting. Let’s understand the differences between each of these roles.

What Is the Difference Between an IT Strategy Consultant and a PMO?

The main difference between an IT strategy consultant and a PMO lies in the nature of their support.

PMO stands for Project Management Office, and it primarily provides management-related support, such as tracking progress, managing resources, and controlling costs.

Specialized IT knowledge is not required; rather, management skills are what count. However, since there are overlapping areas, there is a growing trend of IT strategy consultants also performing PMO support functions.

What Is the Difference Between an IT Strategy Consultant and a Strategy Consultant?

IT strategy consultants and strategy consultants are often confused with one another, but they are different roles. Strategy consultants support overall business strategy and planning, while IT strategy consultants more often focus on improving systems and operations.

There are also differences in how projects are run. IT strategy consultants tend to have more frequent contact with clients due to the nature of operational improvement. In contrast, strategy consultants may sometimes have contact with clients only once a week, such as when taking on delegated business operations.

Q&A About IT Strategy Consultants

Finally, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about IT strategy consultants.

Summary

In this article, for those interested in becoming an IT strategy consultant, we explained the job responsibilities, the rewarding aspects, and the useful certifications for IT strategy consultants. Since IT strategy consulting is specialized in the IT field, having relevant experience and knowledge will be a strong asset.

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