Inflated Expertise, Deflated Ethics? Navigating the Ethical Dilemmas of Confidence versus Transparency in Consulting

This essay explores the ethical implications of expertise inflation in the management consulting industry, a practice where consultants present uncertain or speculative knowledge as definitive. Drawing on qualitative insights from an anonymized case study featuring an Associate Manager at a global consultancy, it critically evaluates this issue through consequentialism, moral disengagement theory and virtue ethics. Additionally, a comprehensive stakeholder analysis demonstrates the broader impact on clients, consulting firms, employees, and society. Acknowledging the limitations of current professional codes, such as the Dutch OOA Code of Conduct, the essay proposes practical solutions including enhanced ethical training, explicit ethical guidelines, and fostering an organizational culture of transparency and integrity.