Where Automation Meets Augmentation: Balancing the Double-Edged Role of Generative AI in Management Consulting

Abstract

The article explores the tensions between the opportunities and challenges of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in management consulting, highlighting its potential to drive efficiency while mitigating risks such as hallucinations and loss of skill retention. Through a Task-GenAI Fit (TGAIF) framework, deduced from qualitative interviews with leading German consulting firms, the article outlines how aligning tasks with GenAI capabilities can optimize task performance in consulting workflows. The recommendations support the efficient and responsible use of GenAI in complex consulting environments, balancing organizational and individual perspectives. This study contributes to information systems research by advancing efficient human-GenAI collaboration and task-technology alignment in knowledge-intensive contexts.