TIMELINE

As the world ’ s first management consulting firm , Arthur D . Little has been linking people , technology , and strategy for 135 years . We highlight the global firm ’ s achievements – from multiple firsts , to pioneering research , to innovative strategies designed for the world ’ s leading organisations .

Arthur Dehon Little and Roger B . Griffin started the business in 1886 in Boston ; and in 1890 , Arthur formed a second partnership with William H . Walker , professor of applied chemistry at MIT . The firm ’ s slogan ‘ other people ’ s troubles are our business ’, was born in 1907 , and two years later , Arthur D . Little ( ADL ) was incorporated as the world ’ s first company seeking to apply technology to industrial growth . Achievements include organising the first R & D lab for GM , and completing 165 studies of Canada ’ s natural resources and their industrial potential .

This period , which saw ADL led by four presidents following Arthur D Little ’ s death in 1935 , was a time of great discovery for ADL – from contributing significantly to the development of fibreglass , to developing the first realtime online , computerised reservation system for American Airlines with IBM . Projects with J & J and GE in 1951 led to the development of modern logistics management , while an ADL paper published in the HBR marked the transformation of a firm ’ s focus from technical research to management consulting . ADL opened its first European office ( Zurich ) in 1957 .

14 November 2022