Does Size Matter?

“Because we are smaller we innovate faster.”  I read this phrase recently and it got me thinking about big firms and small firms and the pros and cons that each business model brings a client.  The small guys say “we can be just as good as the big guys” when really with the democratization of information, where access to software is not just for the big firms, indeed the small guys have many advantages over the larger firms. I don’t just mean in overhead and principal involvement on projects but in speed to adapt, try new methods and innovate.  Small firms need to focus on what they do better than the big guys not just that they are “as good as”. 

From the same token, if you are a big company- what do you bring your client that a small firm cannot bring?  That is getting harder and harder to distinguish. If you are working with a big firm what do I as a client get by choosing a better known big firm other than a name?  Do I get better information?  If I have people working in silos in a big firm is that an advantage to me as your client?  To get the added value of big, how you work and share information and relationships with your partners and other divisions could make you extremely powerful.  Big firms can be big and powerful or they can just be big.  Firms, regardless of size, should focus on what they could be bringing because of their size (big, small or in between) and make that a focus of discussion, strategy and behavior.  Increase that differentiation and make it even more evident to clients. You’ll be amazed at what happens.

Ann Banning - Wright