Trusted Advisors, Unquestioned Premises: How External Consultants Inherit and Amplify Your Riskiest Assumptions
External consultants are often hired precisely because they bring fresh perspective — yet that same outsider status can cause them to accept your organization's most dangerous assumptions at face value. When foundational beliefs go unchallenged, even the most rigorous consulting engagement can produce recommendations built on a faulty premise. This article examines how that dynamic unfolds and what executives can do to prevent it.