Study initiated towards Developing Women Consultants

Consultancy Development Centre of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India has launched a Study on “Status of Women Consultants in India” to assess the role of women professionals in consulting. The Study is being carried out in association with the International Management Institute (IMI), a leading business school in Delhi. The objective of the study is to map the competencies among women professionals and identify gaps, based on which a plan for competency enhancement of women professionals for consulting across sectors/disciplines and functions can be developed.

Many women professionals have personal and family responsibilities that play a part in determining ability to reach their desired career paths. Finding the right opportunity to maintain an effective balance between personal and professional responsibilities is the challenge for every professional woman today. With the present IT and communication technologies, most consulting activities can be carried out from home resulting in low overheads as well as flexibility. This is an added advantage for women as it helps them in maintaining an effective balance between the professional commitments as well as the family responsibilities.

Studies carried out by McKinsey, the internationally renowned consulting firm and IBM, the leading IT firm indicate that in the coming years women will be an increasing percentage of the workforce at all levels and shall play an important role as members of diverse consulting teams.

The Study by CDC will include personal interviews in mini/metro cities across the country, besides desk research and questionnaire based survey. The outcome would help in evolving a Road Map including policy initiatives to be taken for development of women consultants in the country. The Study is expected to be completed in six months, leading to a series of seminars for dissemination of the findings of the Study.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : February 05, 2008