8 Steps in the Consulting Process

(based on Flawless Consulting by Peter Block)

The dynamic and collaborative process we want to create between you as client-organization and Move! is 'unique' and 'customized'. However, the process needs a number of specific stages, in order to ensure a qualitative, fact based and sound workingprocess and relationship between you and us. Move! will be the guardian of that process while working with you. As we work together through these stages, new information and data will become available, allowing us to 'specify' gradually our approach. That information might also lead to recontracting and readjusting the role and contribution of all parties involved. The depth with which those steps will be developed depends on the complexity of the assignment and the number of stakeholders involved.

Short Description of Each Step

STEP 1 : CONTACT It's the start of our working relationship. Move! uses it to build the relationship, create understanding for your needs and expectations and to clarify what you can expect from us. The objective is to share the initial perception of the performance issue or challenge, and understand the context the assignment will be conducted in. This step must lead to mutual willingness to invest in working together, with good perspectives to contribute to the organization's performance & success. This step takes usually one or two meetings and the customer is free to decide not to go ahead with the assignment (free of charge). STEP 2 : CONTRACTING This step leads to a more 'formal' working agreement covering the assignment, ways of working, roles of client and consultant. It's a first attempt to define the scope and boundaries of the assignment and to identify the stakeholders involved. It produces a first outline of the expected results in terms of behavior change and performance improvement. Here we agree on : Next steps to take (data gathering and needs analysis) How to work together on this How to exchange information as we go Timing & cost

STEP 3 : DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS In this step, Move! gathers and analyzes all relevant information. To create buy-in, Move! designs a number of activities to allow stakeholders to : Share and discuss the information and experience they have around the issues Make their own analysis based on the gathered facts Move! facilitates this process through a number of methodologies like : focus groups, interviews, meta-planning, Force Field Analysis, SWOT-analysis, Brainstorming, Impact / Effort. Youll find more information on those methodologies in our Impact through Involvement toolkit (available on the website) STEP 4 : DIAGNOSIS & FEEDBACK In this step we 'Feed Back' the assembled data and the different 'views' the stakeholders had on this information (analysis) to the 'project owner' in the organization and the stakeholders involved. Based on that information we either : agree that we understand the nature of the problem and we can identify the context, causes and consequences that are involved in the Performance issue or challenge .. or we decide that further investigation and data gathering is needed The main objective of this phase is to bring about a mutual understanding and agreement on the diagnosis of the situation. STEP 5 : DECIDE ON THE WAY FORWARD Once in agreement on the diagnosis, we brainstorm together on possible action strategies to address the issues. Move! facilitates the 'problem solving' process and enables stakeholders to "think out of the box" and to produce a number of creative and innovative ways to deal with the issues. This is an important "recontracting" moment where we agree on the actions to take, the roles and responsibilities as well as the expected outcomes. We adapt the formal 'consulting agreement' accordingly. STEP 6 : DESIGN THE INTERVENTION In this step Move!, in close collaboration with internal expertise and experience, develops a detailed plan including methodology, involvement & communication strategy, project organization, activities, resources, budgets for the identified solution. We also design the necessary measures (qualitative / quantitative) to monitor progress and results as we proceed in this project. Move! will also design the specific activities, workshops, tools etc... that are necessary to execute the action strategy decided on. Apart from 'instructional design expertise' Move! will facilitate activities and support the internal project owner in planning and coordinating the 'to do's' during this intervention. Move! will also take the role of 'process guardian' in order to make sure that all stakeholders stay involved throughout the project. STEP 7 : IMPLEMENTATION Here we carry out the action plan generated to solve the problem, implement new technology or processes, start up projects, etc...This may include team development, training, coaching-on-the-job, etc... Move! tries to make sure all interventions are very much aligned with each other and integrated in your normal business and operational processes. STEP 8 : EVALUATE & LEARN This is the formal closure of the project, review with the stakeholders the activities undertaken and identify the learnings. In this step we try to 'observe or measure' the behavior changes that occurred and the impact it had on the business results. We also formalize the learnings in terms of 'process' : how did we work together, what went well, what can we improve, ... ? The idea is to formalize the learnings and use them for future assignments or for future internal projects in your organization.

Move! Organizational Learning

Bankstraat 27 B-3000 Leuven Belgium Tel : +32 16 23 91 23 e-mail : team@movelearning.com