Accenture (High Performance Delivered)

Accenture started off as Anderson consulting by Arther Anderson in 1953 and currently
serving 91 out of Fortune 100 companies as its clients. Accenture provides consulting service in
management, financial and technology domains and it is mainly known for innovative
marketing campaigns.
Structure
Mechanistic Structure
Accenture is highly centralized, and hence the decision control and power is usually in the
higher level of management. However, the hierarchy of authority well defined and standardized
throughout the globe (across all the offices), which means that there is no ambiguity as in
which employee should report which manager (or an immediate head). This accounts for better
coordination across levels in the hierarchy leading to faster decision making and better control
over the individuals, but then on the other hand it also accounts for lack of flexibility and
overpowers the supervisor.
Culture
When Accenture is accounted on this parameter then it has 6 core values based on which it
modifies the culture based on local sentiments. These core values are Stewardship, Best
people, Client value creation, One global network, Respect for the individual and Integrity.
These values help them to
Focusing on teamwork: Together, you can experience the satisfaction of finding
innovative ways to enable clients to reach their high performance goals.
Investing in training and development: We hire the best people and help them become
even better at what they do.
Providing a supportive work environment: With access to a vast array of resources,
Accenture helps every employee build his or her career.
Sharing our skills in the community: We focus on using our core skills to make a real
difference to communities in a way that resonates with our business and our
employees.
Hierarchy Overview
Diamond-shaped hierarchy retained organizations replace the heavy bottom of the (traditional)
pyramid-shaped with BPO providers. Many transactional activities that were once performed by
employees (in the traditional pyramid structure) are now performed by providers, typically in a
lower cost location. There are fewer middle managers, but more subject matter experts (SMEs)
and project leads. The diamond-shaped organization also needs more quality assurance and
governance skills to coordinate services with providers.
The benefits of the diamond-shaped retained organization are lower costs, access to BPO
providers with best-of-breed skills, and greater flexibility because providers can more easily
adapt to increases or decreases in service volumes.
The detailed diagram is available in Appendix section.
Acquisitions
Accenture keeps on acquiring companies in order to expand their domain of expertise and
provide their clients with the best experience they can ever have. Few of the recent acquisitions
have been mentioned as follows,
Accenture Completes Acquisition of Enkitec, Extending Ability to Help Clients Optimize
Oracle-Based Data Center Solutions
Accenture Expands its Enterprise Performance Management Capabilities with
Acquisition of PureApps
Accenture Completes Acquisition of i4C Analytics, Expands Its Capabilities to Offer
Clients Greater Choice, Flexibility and Access to Advanced Analytics Apps
Accenture to Expand its Advanced Analytics Capabilities with Acquisition of i4C
Analytics
Accenture Completes Acquisition of Businesses from evopro group, Strengthens
Industrial and Embedded Software Capabilities.
Accenture to Expand Its Salesforce Capabilities in Europe with Acquisition of
ClientHouse.
Accenture Completes Acquisition of PCO Innovation
Innovation
It has built its entire business on use of disruptive technologies & innovation to service to
customers. Accenture practices efficiently the philosophy of first mover advantage. The many
competitors have found it hard to imitate their business model/strategy.
The global Accenture Innovation Center network supports activities related to delivering
innovation to its clients in the communications, electronics, high tech and media and
entertainment industries.
In October 2009, Accenture launched the Accenture Innovation Center for Health in response to
the growing global demand for insights into and strategies to confront the top health issues and
challenges affecting citizens worldwide. Positive outlook for health care IT spending would
ensure steady revenues for the company's healthcare practice in coming years.