The building of trust in client-consultant relationships and its influence on data protection in consulting

Abstract

The era of "big data" has produced various problems on companies' protection with their clients' data. As a special industry which may access more confidential information about their clients to finish their work, consultants in consulting companies may face more pressure on data protection and how to maintain their clients' trust. Moreover, trust-building in client-consultant relationships may not only influence the data which consultants can gain from their clients but also change the way how should they better protect their clients' data. Base on the previous studies and open digitals from consulting firms like Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey & Company, this research explores the relationships of trust-building and data protection in the consulting industry and build a framework about its dynamic mechanism to explain its relationships.