Consulting Methodology Essay Example for Free

Consulting Methodology EssayConsultant ApproachQuickly understanding problems, pull together relevant data, and synthesizing insightful resultsThe Minto Pyramid PrincipleA set of rules that helps create groups in a way that is logical and structured. Groups help you communicate easily to others. set out for that identifies issues, designs research, abbreviation, and communication Way of sorting data to compartmentalize complex details and organize info Only effective if you have a clear nous of what the issue or question is. Ideas should be binding-down, with lower levels supporting upper levels. Avoid more(prenominal) than 3 categories (hard to remember). Sub-ideas = grouped as well. Consulting Process and Context business Definition anchor issues are developed using a Situation-Complication- apparent movement (SCQ) analysis The anchor issue is the clients most pressing strike. A seat statement is a non-controversial description of stable conditions. A complication st atement is what altered the stable situation and created the problem. The key question is the question implicitly raised(a) by the complication statements.Step 1 Ask Probing QuestionsGet to the essence of the issue. Ask Why? and look for effects that may be masquerading as causes. Causal relationships substructure be very difficult to decipher. Take none of body language and subtext. Find evidence and document all of the answers. Step 2 Sort and Group InfoUse the Pyramid Principle to join ideas. Start by grouping similar ideas. Then, summarize from separately one group with a headland sentence. Sort each heading sentence into situation, complication, or question. Repeat these steps with all of the data.Step 3 Determine Key Objective in that respect is only one key question.From the SCQ, determine the key question. It should be the natural question that is a logical progression from each of the complications. The overarching issueFraming the Key QuestionCan be as important as d etermining the question itselfThe form is dependent on what types of complications exist. Different frames will provide a different lens for the question. After determining the type, restate in a closed coiffe answered with YES or NO. Refrain from positioning one issue over another, unless complications explicitly require it. Make sure the question is broad enough (neither too specific nor too in-depth) to cover all of the relevant and connect sub-questionsApproachIssue abridgmentUses the Minto Pyramid Principle, which structures idea. Issues Analysis structures the analysis of a problem using questions. Issues Analysis is utilise to structure the questions that must be address to answer the key question.Step 1 Identify All Sub-QuestionsWhat other information is required to answer the key question. Use the closed question format and be stated in a positive-yes format.Step 2 Sort and Group QuestionsUse the Pyramid Principle to help connect questions.Step 3 Build the Issues tree Reflect what your brain has already done and the live on youve already realized. To begin, put the key question at the top of the tree. Underneath the key question, write down each of the heading questions at the same level. For each of the heading questions, add sub-questions at the next level. No need to have more than four levels of questions.Step 4 Test for MECE* There are 2 qualifications. ME = Mutually Exclusive and means questions are not similar to each other. CE = Collectively Exhaustive means you have covered all important questions and is comprehensive.Step 5 List Tasks for Getting EvidenceIdentifying the tasks that need to be completed to answer the sub-questions. At the worst level of each part of the Issues manoeuver, determine what needs to be done to answer the lowest level question. If all of the lowest level questions can be answered, the questions above can also be answered, since each question is in a closed, positive-yes format. This means that work does not need to be repeated or added later on in the process. devise PlanWay to keep track of multiple projects. Knowing the scope of the work can help define (or redefine) content. Help clarify whether there are issues to address. Makes it easy to assign work. Four-step process Rotate the Issues TreeRotate the Issues Tree 90 degrees counterclockwise with the key issue on the left and as you move to the respectable, questions will get more and more detailed. On the far make up will be the list of activities and tasks.Determine Resources NeededEstablish the duration of each task and what will be needed and then assign.Align Work Plan with ResourcesCreate a high-level work plan including designate resources. Include the individual tasks, which people are assigned to each task, and how long each task will take to complete. There are three raw material elements of a work plan that determine scope activities or tasks, resources, and a quantify or project schedule.Define and Request Client S upportRevisit important issues with the client. It will become clear what additional resources are needed and why. Because each resource is linked to an activity, and each activity is tied to an explicit question, requests for more time, people, or information are very easy to validate.Data Gathering and AnalysisPrimary and Secondary ResearchEqually important. Secondary is mining existing data. Important because it can be validated by multiple sources and supporting details. in force(p) because it uses different pieces of data to draw conclusions without emotional bias. Primary data gathered through interviews and is important because it includes nonverbal signals. interview TechniquesNot merely asking the right questions.4 step process.Plan Interview and Define ObjectivesImportant to know three things about finding the appropriate source for an interview Who knows the answer to the questions? Who is voluntary to answer the questions? And who will be a credible source? Contact a large number of people. Call back if a subject is unprocurable it is more effective than leaving a message. Allow for additional time. Conduct background research on interviewees.Prepare a ScriptExecute the InterviewIntroduction introduce self and state the purpose of the interview.Core ask the questions youve prepared.Closing Thank the interviewee and allow for them to ask questions.Record and SummarizeFindings and Recommendations PresentationsConvert the Issues Tree to an OutlineReplace Each Question with a StatementBuild the Presentation SlidesEach phrase that answers a question will be the top line of the slide and findings will take up the rest of the slide. At the end of the presentation slide, repeat the first slide of the key issue and heading questions with an answer to reiterate the primary message When to disclose the answer? Can provide answer at the beginning of the presentation so that the audience is nowadays aware. Or hold the answer until the end so the conclusion seems inevitable. Answer at the beginning when the audience already understands the situation, agreement is likely, and the audience is impatient. Answer at the end when the audience is unfamiliar with the facts, the conclusions are controversial, and the audience is detail-oriented and story-motivated. Ensures agreement and make the conclusion viewed as objective and inevitable.Framework and ToolsClient ProfilingTool used to rapidly get up to speed with new clients. First step is understanding the clients strategic direction, which is classified as either goals or objectives. Objectives are broad and describe general direction, are intangible, abstract, non-measurable. Goals are narrower and specific, concrete, tangible, measurable, with deadlines. Scope of the project is important in outlining what work your team will and wont be expected to complete. To create the scope, you need to think carefully about what sorts of opportunities and brats the client is facing. Understand wha t the client is and isnt willing to do. Business and Customers start with examining the basic client business, the geographic area, financial status, recent news. Examine the look upon chain to analyze what the client does. Use the buy criteria to understand how customers interact with what the client is offering.The buying criteria are a number of things about a product that impact if the customer will choose it. Anything that is essential in order to have customers is called a must have. If a feature is something that changes a customers mind is called differentiating. Features that are interesting but may not be willing to pay for are called nice to have. Marketing Mix help determine the best combination of marketing for customer awareness and loyalty. Called The Four Ps Product, Place, Promotion, Price. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix analyzes how product investment should be managed. Stars need added investment to maintain and can be emfly bring added profit. Questi on Marks may need more investment to succeed or should be divested. Dogs should be divested to invest in more profitable markets.Cows make excellent margins and dont need more investment. Sources of Competitive Advantage 3 types Scale advantage means being larger than most competitors and manifests when a company creates standard products and can come from different sources like cost leadership, efficiency, economies of scale, market share, etc. Differentiation advantage is when the company has a premium because of value that is created by products that are unique. Creates an industry environment or imperfect competition in favor of client (example Apple). Unique Access advantage is when the company reaches customers that others cant or has resources others dont leads to price premium and imperfect competition.Macro and Industry InsightNeed to understand the environment the client is works in. Generate insight around which forces drive client behavior. PESTEL analysis examines the m acro forces and trends beyond the immediate competitive landscape. Quick reference for drivers. 5 Forces Analysis door guard is an MECE way to approach any industry and provide a quick litmus test for attractiveness. 5 forces are supplier power, buyer power, threat of substitutes, barriers to foundation and competitive rivalry. Magnitude and direction of each force will indicate attractiveness. If buyer power is high the result for the firms is negative and the industry is less attractive.If supplier power is high, the result for the firms is negative and the industry is less attractive. If competitive rivalry is high the result for each firm is negative and the industry is less attractive. If threat of substitutes is high, the result for each firm is negative and the industry is less attractive. If threat of new entrants is high (in other words, there are many barriers to entry) the forces impact is dependent on what type of player the client is. If the client is an established p layer, having high barriers to entry is a positive force. If the client is a potential new entrant, high barriers to entry are negative and the industry is less attractive to enter, but more attractive to stay in. SWOT only fauna for examining a company directly.Competitor AnalysisUsual and unusual competitors. Usual competitors are easy to recognize they have a similar offering and/or target a similar market to serve the same needs. Unusual competitors are harder to find and come from lots of different sources any competitor that is not usual.Professional Behavior and EthicsMaintaining ProfessionalismThe goal of being a Trusted Advisor is to do business ethically, lawfully and collaboratively through an unwavering dedication to the highest standards of master conduct. The ability to behave professionally establishes credibility in the clients eyes.Exhibiting Interpersonal SkillsEstablishing and Honoring AgreementsSuccessfully establishing and honoring agreements gives consultants integrityTake ActionTo shuffle these skills into your daily routine, find a list of action items to start first thing on Monday morning. Practice sorting and grouping the elements of your daily e-mails, do an SCQ and issues analysis for a company you find interesting, and work hard to demonstrate integrity and credibility in any work that you do.