Comparison
What does an interim manager do?
An interim manager takes on a leadership role in the business for a limited time: when a position is vacant, a project needs experience or a crisis has to be led quickly. They lead with responsibility and authority.
Service
What they deliver.
Leadership for a set period, usually a few months. They take on a role, for example as managing director, head of department or project lead, and then hand it over to a permanent appointment.
Cost
What they cost.
Billing is by day rate. The industry association DDIM (Dachgesellschaft Deutsches Interim Management) estimated the average day rate for 2024 at €1,358. How high it is in a given case depends on role, industry and duration.
DDIM, estimate for 2024, cited from karrierebibel.de.
Fit
When they are the right choice.
- A position is vacant, and the business can’t wait.
- A transition phase: succession, acquisition, a reshuffle of leadership.
- A project needs leadership that is missing in-house.
Limits
Where their limit lies.
An interim manager runs the business the way it is built. Whether the position is still needed in this form, whether the task should go or be cut differently, is rarely theirs to decide. Then a gap gets filled that perhaps didn’t need to be one.
Decision
What has to be decided first.
Do we fill the position again, or does the task go? That question comes before every appointment, including a temporary one. It sits in the Responsibility field. If a handover is coming up: Succession. If it is about who decides what today: Organisational consulting.
Comparison
| Role | Delivers | Right when | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim manager | Leadership for a set period | a position is vacant | They run the business the way it is built. |
| Decision Architect | a judgement before the measure, in writing, and then he leads the build | plans contradict each other or money is being lost and nobody knows where | He doesn’t build himself and doesn’t decide for you. |
First the decision on which role is needed. Then the person who fills it, permanently or for a set period.
Questions
How long does an interim manager stay?
Usually a few months, until a permanent appointment takes over or the project is on its feet.
Is an interim manager a consultant?
No. They take on a role with responsibility. A consultant recommends.
More comparisons: What does a management consultant cost? · What does a management consultant do? · What is an advisory board? · What does a business coach do?