Overview
ISO 20700:2017 - Guidelines for management consultancy services is an international guidance standard published by ISO (first edition, 2017). It provides a practical framework to improve transparency, professionalism and outcomes in management consulting engagements. The document is written as guidance (not a prescriptive specification) and is applicable to all management consultancy service providers (MCSPs) - from sole practitioners to large firms, internal consulting units, NGOs and public bodies.
What the standard covers
- High-level principles for effective consultancy relationships, emphasizing outcome focus, client understanding and professional ethics.
- A recommended consulting process structured around three core phases: contracting, execution and closure.
- Guidance on organizational policies and governance relevant to consultancy assignments.
- Annexes with practical examples (e.g., codes of conduct, conflict-of-interest guidance, capability criteria, risk-management examples and pre-assignment activities).
- The document favors flexibility: MCSPs may keep their own methods while following the guidance to improve client value and reduce project risk.
Key topics and technical focus
- Contracting: defining purpose, inputs, expected outcomes, deliverables, roles and responsibilities, acceptance criteria and terms & conditions.
- Execution: work-plan refinement, implementation, assignment management, monitoring, approvals and change control.
- Closure: legal/contractual close-out, final evaluation, handover, administrative completion and handling outstanding minor issues.
- Policies and governance: stakeholder engagement, project governance, capability management, communication, data protection and confidentiality, intellectual property, social responsibility, health & safety, risk and quality management.
- Professional conduct: recommended code of ethics and practices to manage conflicts of interest and protect innovation/differentiation.
- Informative annexes provide templates and examples to evaluate capability and manage typical risks.
Practical applications - who benefits
- Management consultants and MCSPs seeking to standardize service delivery and demonstrate professionalism.
- Client organizations (procurement, sponsor, project managers) who need clearer contracting, acceptance criteria and governance for consultancy work.
- Internal consulting units and professional bodies aiming to align processes with internationally-recognized good practice.
- Legal, compliance and quality teams looking for guidance on confidentiality, IP, risk and contract closure.
Related information
- ISO 20700 is guidance (no normative references) and includes Annex A for supplementary information on ISO standards. Use ISO 20700 to improve consulting outcomes, reduce assignment risk and enhance client–consultant transparency.