Comment by theFco

Institutional knowledge stays in the institution and builds up after people have moved from those roles even. Consulting companies bring the operational knowledge to help with a specific situation. Sometimes you may need the institutional knowledge (if it aligns with the mission of the organisation) and sometimes it is better to concentrate on your mission and use the consultancy's knowledge to help you. Blanket statements are problematic. Particularly for something as complex of the goverment as a whole.