Should you hire a consultant or an interim manager?

Well, as the title says, what you select will depend upon so many factors. Besides the job itself, it depends upon whether there is a concept of interim management/contracting anyway in your region/location/country as I know in many countries, this does not exist.

Also, the company ethos matters hugely. Many firms are dead set against having any kind of consultants and prefer to purchase in interim managers for a limited period of time, then train up internal resources to take over from the interim manager. I personally would go for this option, but I have seen firms being consultant heaven. The reasons are varied but my simple question is this, if you havent planned for these skills or resources to be in place and available, then you arent a good manager or you have been hit by an act of god. Which one is it for you and/or your firm?

Management consultants are often 'more project workers than ideas people'

ESRC Society Today - Management consultants are often 'more project workers than ideas people'

I have been one, have hired many and live with many more. I mean management consultants. I have to admit that the research that this is based upon is slightly limited and possibly drops all management consultants into one bucket. The projects, - a multinational company (strategy analysis), a financial services retailer (IT development), a prison (project management and quality) and a local authority (e-procurement) do not relate to projects which do call for expert management consulting advice relating to regulatory changes, or new market opening or new product development, etc. But still, interesting reading