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John Wellwood - CPG Event 10th November 2010 - The Knowledgeable Buyer

Institute of Consulting
Institute of Consulting

This document summarizes a presentation on selecting effective business improvement consultants and consultancy firms. It discusses the characteristics of 100% effective consultancies and consultants, including having a philosophy of knowledge transfer, diverse teams, guarantees, and case studies of similar work. Effective consultants have both influencing skills and technical abilities. They understand different improvement methodologies and can build teams. The document provides tips for validating consultants, such as checking credentials and implementation experience. The key issues are that selection takes time and effort, different approaches can be effective, and influencing skills are important for implementation success.

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IBC - Consultancy Purchasing Group Event The Knowledgeable Buyer 10th November 2010 John Wellwood
0845 070 2987 The Theme What are the characteristics of a good business improvement consultant (and consultancy) and how can procurement professionals validate these traits effectively during the buying process?
0845 070 2987 Problems for Buyers of Professional Services How to select, what makes one consultancy better than the others How do you find different consultancies How do you know if consultants and consultancies are effective We only meet the partners, or senior consultants but they dont do the work Lack of time to assess and select consultants Inconsistent approaches; every consultancy will do it differently We dont understand business improvement so how do we assess We dont want to take risks in case you get it wrong but we want something different Price is not a good measure of quality so what is? We are told which consultancy to use so cant question it but if we did what would we look for
0845 070 2987 What are we going to discuss? Characteristics of a 100% Effective consultancy firm Characteristics of a 100% Effective consultant How to validate a consultant and consultancy firm Summary of key issues
0845 070 2987 Effective Business Improvement Consultancy Outcomes Results of improvement Projects = Quality of the Solutions + Acceptance of the Organisation Through use of the right tools / techniques Through effective change mgt / influencing
0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultancy Firm Their philosophy They want to pass on knowledge ASAP and help the business elsewhere Dont only have one approach, model or way of doing business. They adapt their approach to the client. Dont say this is the only way to improve your business They have excellent diverse people, who they will let you meet They will put their money where their mouth is - Guarantees of some kind Know what they dont know and not afraid to say no. A good firm will say if they cant do something
0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultancy Firm Their History Excellent website which tells you what you need to know about them Reputation there is information about them and their key people on the web Reputable past clients you can talk to They measure quality in every assignment and stress its importance They have worked in a number of different industries why would you want a consultancy firm with limited experience? They have case studies or examples of what they have done in the past which is similar to your culture.
0845 070 2987 Types of Business Improvement Consultants Influencing Skills Technical Skills Effective BIC Technical Experts Showmen
0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultant Influencing Skills Ability to build rapport at all levels Excellent communicator Good listener Charisma Fantastic people skills You get on with them Great influencing skills
0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultant Technical Ability Do they understand your issues and culture Think on their feet Know their subject and can explain it in simple terms Have lots of war stories Have done it for themselves Have worked in a number of different industries Technical knowledge but also soft skills
0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultant Character Know what they dont know and not afraid to ask for help Open and honest Willing and actively look to learn Do they challenge and question you
0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Business Improvement Consultant Understand all the improvement methodologies and are not tied to one methodology or model Not a purist Understand influencing and change management Have run a number of projects in different industries Can build effective teams quickly
0845 070 2987 What every professional buyer should know Validate Consultants Are they dedicated to one approach six sigma or do they understand business improvement Dont believe it when they say they are qualified Black Belts Ask them about their recruitment policy Remember not all consultants are excellent Dont all have good people skills Ask about their utilisation figures Who will be delivering - the person you meet or junior consultants ask to meet them or talk to them Sound credible Have they done it for real Ask about their last 3 assignments Do they understand your culture and have they worked in this environment before? Have the ability to explain in simple terms
0845 070 2987 What every professional buyer should know Validate the Firm Past clients / Case studies Reputations; have you seen or heard of them, are they present on the web Website Guarantees Flexibility Knowledge of subject Want to pass on knowledge Do they use their approach to business improvement in their own business Understand that the technical aspect is the easy part Willing to say when and why things went wrong Do they challenge you? Do they have the resources for the assignment How do they obtain business? Quality how do they measure this? How have they done it in the past?
0845 070 2987 The Key Issues No quick answer takes time and effort One approach is not better than any other, its about business improvement Influencing skills make the difference Check the credentials Risk share Look beyond the showman meet the consultants
0845 070 2987 The Key Issues Ensure all professional elements covered website, clients, background Effective consultants are experts, coaches, trainers etc Its about implementation not report writing
IBC - Consultancy Purchasing Group Event The Knowledgeable Buyer 10th November 2010 Thank You John Wellwood

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John Wellwood - CPG Event 10th November 2010 - The Knowledgeable Buyer

  • 1. IBC - Consultancy Purchasing Group Event The Knowledgeable Buyer 10th November 2010 John Wellwood
  • 2. 0845 070 2987 The Theme What are the characteristics of a good business improvement consultant (and consultancy) and how can procurement professionals validate these traits effectively during the buying process?
  • 3. 0845 070 2987 Problems for Buyers of Professional Services How to select, what makes one consultancy better than the others How do you find different consultancies How do you know if consultants and consultancies are effective We only meet the partners, or senior consultants but they dont do the work Lack of time to assess and select consultants Inconsistent approaches; every consultancy will do it differently We dont understand business improvement so how do we assess We dont want to take risks in case you get it wrong but we want something different Price is not a good measure of quality so what is? We are told which consultancy to use so cant question it but if we did what would we look for
  • 4. 0845 070 2987 What are we going to discuss? Characteristics of a 100% Effective consultancy firm Characteristics of a 100% Effective consultant How to validate a consultant and consultancy firm Summary of key issues
  • 5. 0845 070 2987 Effective Business Improvement Consultancy Outcomes Results of improvement Projects = Quality of the Solutions + Acceptance of the Organisation Through use of the right tools / techniques Through effective change mgt / influencing
  • 6. 0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultancy Firm Their philosophy They want to pass on knowledge ASAP and help the business elsewhere Dont only have one approach, model or way of doing business. They adapt their approach to the client. Dont say this is the only way to improve your business They have excellent diverse people, who they will let you meet They will put their money where their mouth is - Guarantees of some kind Know what they dont know and not afraid to say no. A good firm will say if they cant do something
  • 7. 0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultancy Firm Their History Excellent website which tells you what you need to know about them Reputation there is information about them and their key people on the web Reputable past clients you can talk to They measure quality in every assignment and stress its importance They have worked in a number of different industries why would you want a consultancy firm with limited experience? They have case studies or examples of what they have done in the past which is similar to your culture.
  • 8. 0845 070 2987 Types of Business Improvement Consultants Influencing Skills Technical Skills Effective BIC Technical Experts Showmen
  • 9. 0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultant Influencing Skills Ability to build rapport at all levels Excellent communicator Good listener Charisma Fantastic people skills You get on with them Great influencing skills
  • 10. 0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultant Technical Ability Do they understand your issues and culture Think on their feet Know their subject and can explain it in simple terms Have lots of war stories Have done it for themselves Have worked in a number of different industries Technical knowledge but also soft skills
  • 11. 0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Consultant Character Know what they dont know and not afraid to ask for help Open and honest Willing and actively look to learn Do they challenge and question you
  • 12. 0845 070 2987 Characteristics of a 100% Effective Business Improvement Consultant Understand all the improvement methodologies and are not tied to one methodology or model Not a purist Understand influencing and change management Have run a number of projects in different industries Can build effective teams quickly
  • 13. 0845 070 2987 What every professional buyer should know Validate Consultants Are they dedicated to one approach six sigma or do they understand business improvement Dont believe it when they say they are qualified Black Belts Ask them about their recruitment policy Remember not all consultants are excellent Dont all have good people skills Ask about their utilisation figures Who will be delivering - the person you meet or junior consultants ask to meet them or talk to them Sound credible Have they done it for real Ask about their last 3 assignments Do they understand your culture and have they worked in this environment before? Have the ability to explain in simple terms
  • 14. 0845 070 2987 What every professional buyer should know Validate the Firm Past clients / Case studies Reputations; have you seen or heard of them, are they present on the web Website Guarantees Flexibility Knowledge of subject Want to pass on knowledge Do they use their approach to business improvement in their own business Understand that the technical aspect is the easy part Willing to say when and why things went wrong Do they challenge you? Do they have the resources for the assignment How do they obtain business? Quality how do they measure this? How have they done it in the past?
  • 15. 0845 070 2987 The Key Issues No quick answer takes time and effort One approach is not better than any other, its about business improvement Influencing skills make the difference Check the credentials Risk share Look beyond the showman meet the consultants
  • 16. 0845 070 2987 The Key Issues Ensure all professional elements covered website, clients, background Effective consultants are experts, coaches, trainers etc Its about implementation not report writing
  • 17. IBC - Consultancy Purchasing Group Event The Knowledgeable Buyer 10th November 2010 Thank You John Wellwood