Finally, the real story about corporate America with its increased reliance on consultants. Since the 1990s, consulting solutions have become the de facto standard for solving business problems and providing cover for corporate decision makers. This is not the typical CEO whitewash, or business management primer. Steve Romaine offers a view never before shared with management or stockholders as he takes a hired gun's journey beginning at the outside looking in, and ending at the pinnacle of a corporation's power.

As both a manager and a consultant who has played a critical role in some of the largest corporations, Romaine provides real-world insights that will increase the effectiveness of corporate leaders in hiring and managing outside experts, and will show them ways to maintain the loyalty of their employees while providing incentives for better consultant collaboration with employees. Most important, he highlights a growing problem and helps managers avoid it in the future: "Manage them, or they will manage you."

Romaine provides many insights into the complex manager-consultant relationship based on his experience of working for IBM, his later role as a self-employed consultant, and finally his responsibilities as senior vice president for NationsBank, as it positioned itself for the takeover of Bank of America, becoming one of the largest and most powerful financial institutions in the United States. This book is a must for anyone involved with the consulting business.