Part 8/16:
Simultaneously, the “Big Four” professional firms—Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG—rose to dominance, offering managerial advice, cost-cutting strategies, and restructuring plans. These firms became essential quick-fixes for executives, especially during times of crisis or upheaval. Yet, paradoxically, they also contributed to the very cost inefficiencies they claimed to address: their own high fees and bloated teams added to corporate expenses rather than saving money.