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Delivery stages of consulting engagement process

        Consulting Magazine is your number one source for understanding Consulting, the Consulting Industry, and the benefits of using Consultants to improve an organization’s operations.

Consulting engagements are the process by which professional Consultants help organizations improve their operations. The delivery process involves six stages: commence, collect, consider, create, counsel, and consult.

The consultation process involves engaging professionals in a detailed discussion to understand a certain topic or concept (Rietjens et al., 2018).  Once this has been completed, the professional Consultant moves to the delivery stage in which the direct service to an organization begins. The first step in the delivery stage is to develop a plan (Lu et al., 2018). This plan will detail how the professional Consultant will provide the services to the organization. It will be a detailed and specific plan that outlines what needs to be done, how it will be done, and when it will be done. The plan will also provide what the professional Consultant will do during each stage of the delivery process.

A successful engagement is, therefore, a series of consistent steps that are followed in order. The steps may vary depending on the model or method used, but some key steps are common to all models and methods.

Below is a basic summary of the six delivery processes so that the reader can appreciate the value of subscribing to Consulting Magazine and the more detailed information contained within.

Commence

Commence is the stage in which the client and professional consultant meet to discuss the project for the first time (Newton, 2019). During this stage, a series of events can create an effective environment for the consultation process (Dyer, 2020). The client’s needs and what they hope to achieve will be discussed. The budget and timeline will also be discussed. This information will help the consultant to create a proposal for the project. During this commence process, the client should feel free to ask the consultant any questions about their experience or the project (Nissen, 2017).

Below are the basics of the Commencement Stage:

• First Meeting:  The Consultant, working with the client, should identify a specific location for their meeting to provide the client with more insight into the skills and expectations of the consultant.
• Identifying the problem or issues:  The Consultant will thoroughly review the problem or issue as presented by the client. During this stage, the Consultant will provide the client with a practical understanding of the Consultant’s analysis of the problem or issue (Adizes, et al., 2017) and what the Consultant can offer as possible solutions while emphasizing that the evaluation of the problem needs in-depth examination before finalizing a plan for resolution.
• Best Consultant for Problem:  The client will have the opportunity to determine if the qualifications of the Consultant are equal to the task to resolve the problem or issue based on this first meeting/consultation during the commencement stage.

Collection

        The next and one of the most critical stages of the consultation engagement process is the data collection and diagnosis process. During this stage, the consultant is expected to analyze the problem or issue as presented and collect the necessary information to correctly identify not just the problem, but also the underlying causes of the problem. There can be large discrepancies between the problem presented and the actual problems (Newton, 2019).

A subscription to Consulting Magazine introduces articles that discuss in depth the modalities of data collection and analysis.

Consider

The next stage is Consider. After data collection is completed and analyzed, the data is made presentable in a simple to comprehend manner for the client. The information gathered and analyzed is then presented in a comprehensive report that includes charts, diagrams, and tables as appropriate.

After the presentation of the information gathered and analyzed, the client will take some time to review the information. The client will give feedback on this information. The effectiveness of the feedback may pose some potential challenges to solving the issues presented as there exists resistance by various stakeholders in an organization.

Working with the feedback from the client, the Consultant will offer suggestions for corrective measures for the client’s consideration. At this point, it becomes decision time. Depending on the recommendations, the client may decide to act upon the recommendations, request modifications, or choose not to implement the Consultant’s recommendations. One consideration for the client is whether they have the resources or ability to implement the recommendations. Regardless of the client’s decision, the Consultant always provides the client with post-decision-making feedback, leaving the window open to further consulting opportunities.

Create

        The Creation and Implementation Stage is when an implementation plan is developed using the best possible strategies and approaches to put the agreed-upon recommendations into action. The consultant is expected to develop an effective change model that can be used to introduce the proposed change to the client and other members of the organization (Dyer, 2020). This plan clearly spells out the roles and responsibilities of the Consultant and the client in implementing the plan. The implementation may include providing training on new procedures, processes, or other aspects of the plan.

Counsel and Consult

The client should always have legal representation during the consulting engagement process since the implementation of significant changes in the operation of an organization can have ethical and legal consequences.  Legal counsel assists in solving any issues that may arise during the client and consultant engagement process concerning payment or the effectiveness of the operation’s nature (Dyer, 2020). The Consultant also should have a contract for services reviewed for compliance with the law. Additionally, as the implementation may have effects that need to be considered in the areas such as environmental law, labor law, tax law, as well as other regulatory rules, legal counsel for both the client and the Consultant is essential before the implementation of the plan of improvement and during the ongoing Consultant’s role with the implementation.

RESOURCES

Adizes, I., Cudanov, M., & Rodic, D. (2017). Timing of Proactive Organizational Consulting: Difference between Organizational Perception and Behavior. Amfiteatru Economic, 19(44), 232.

Dyer, C. (2020, December 14). Consultant who signed cremation forms without examining the bodies is struck off. The BMJ. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4846

Lu, Q., Chen, L., Lee, S., & Zhao, X. (2018). Activity theory-based analysis of BIM implementation in building O&M and first response. Automation in Construction, 85, 317–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2017.10.017

Newton, R. (2019). The management consultant: Mastering the art of consultancy (2nd ed.). Pearson.

Nissen, V. (2017). Digital transformation of the Consulting Industry -introduction and Overview. Progress in IS, 1–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70491-3_1

Rietjens, J. A., Sudore, R. L., Connolly, M., van Delden, J. J., Drickamer, M. A., Droger, M., van der Heide, A., Heyland, D. K., Houttekier, D., Janssen, D. J., Orsi, L., Payne, S., Seymour, J., Jox, R. J., & Korfage, I. J. (2018). Definition and recommendations for Advance Care Planning: An international consensus supported by the European Association for Palliative Care. The Lancet Oncology, 18(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/s1470-2045(17)30582-x