But it's a two spot drop from last year (Updated: Cisco actually moved up one spot from last year -JD)
Cisco has made it onto the list of the 25 most prestigious technology consulting firms, a ranking compiled by Vault.com, which rates and ranks players in the consulting industry. In fact, Cisco made the top 10 of the Vault rankings, coming in at No. 6.
But this is a two slot drop from last year’s No. 4 ranking, Vault.com notes. (UPDATE: Due to incorrect information from Vault.com, Cisco actually moved up one spot, from No. 7 in 2010 to No. 6 in 2011. See comment from Vault.com’s Jon Minners below -JD)
The rankings were compiled from more than 1,500 consultants at all levels from March through July. They were asked to rate technology consulting firms on a scale of 1 to 10 based on “prestige;” they were not allowed to rate their own employers, and only those with which they were familiar.
Prestige apparently refers to reputation, quality, know-how, and perhaps some attitude and cost for services. McKinsey & Co. is No. 1, followed by Booz Allen Hamilton and Deloitte Consulting. But there are some arrows attached to such an honor. From the Vault.com press release:
Survey respondents call the consulting juggernaut “consulting gurus,” “very elite,” “the clear global leader,” and “the Harvard of consulting.” But prestige comes with a price and detractors are quick to criticize McKinsey for the work being “draining,” and those at the firm being “fratty, arrogant, know-it-alls,” and “elitist,” with a practice that is “expensive to the point of being overpriced.”
Here’s the rest of the top 10:
4. IBM Global Services
5. Gartner
6. Cisco
7. Accenture
8. Oracle Consulting
9. Lockheed Martin
10. Northrop Grumman
The top three did not change over last year. And only one firm dropped from the top 10 – Capgemini. IBM Global Services jumped up two spots to No. 4 while Gartner dropped one spot to No. 5. Accenture joined Cisco in falling two places, to No. 7. Lockheed and Oracle flip-flopped their positions from last year’s rankings, Vault.com notes, while Northrop Grumman made its debut in the top 10.
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