Execution of Consultancy Process

Question 1

Consultancy Process

Answer 1

Phase 1 - Offering Phase
Identifying problem
Scope of engagement
Proposal to client
Contract stage

Phase 2 - Execution Phase
Diagnosing issue
Making recommendations
Obtaining client acceptance
Implementing recommendations

Phase 3 - Closure Phase
Review
Conclude

Question 2

7 What needs to Identify

Answer 2

Client
Business Activites
Organisational background
Reputation
Performance
Current market state
Market segments

Question 3

4 Identify:

Discussion with the clients

Answer 3

Determines problem in unique or widespread
Questioning leads to more clarity
Impress the client with the consultant’s capabilities
Understand the client’s perception of the problem

Question 4

8 Identify:

Things to do when you meet your clients

Answer 4

1. Introduce yourself and exchange business cards
2. Determine whether the client is comfortable being referred to by his or her first name
3. Know the person’s roles and responsibiities
4. Identify the stakeholders
5. Share your credentials and your domain expertise
6. Bring clarity by defining the business problem
7. Do an arrangement on preferred modes of communication during the assignment
8. Listen carefully to the client’s needs and expectations

Question 5

7 Identify:

The consultant may wish to know about the:

Answer 5

Organisation
Business Activities
Products and services
Locations and of the number of business
Nature of the operating activities
Key personnel
Decision-making structure

Question 6

4 Identify:

Activities

Answer 6

Download brochures or other relevant information from their website
Test your comprehension by relating to the information provided
Request and try to secure arrangements for a brief tour of the key businesses
Draft the refined problem statement

Question 7

Scope of Engagement:

The purpose

Answer 7

Establish clear scopes
Check for time constraints or resource concerns
Seek additional information
Make suggestions of the proposal for client’s needs and expectations
Check if any budget has been allocated

Question 8

7 Scope of Engagement:

Activities

Answer 8

Doing additional client discussion to determine the scope of the assignment
Estimating the range and depth of available data and information
Identifying the need for additional external consultant involvement
Determining the estimated elapsed time, effort and budget for the entire engagement
Identifying the resources that the client needs to commit to, for the successful conduct and completion of the engagement
Determining realistically by when you will be able to generate fully responsive proposal for submission to the client
Appreciating client’s for their involvement and inform them about when you will submit the proposal for review

Question 9

4 Propose:

Activites

Answer 9

Maintain ongoing communications
Share the proposal with then client
Follow up with the client
Present the proposal

Question 10

6 Contract:

Explaining contact details to the client

Answer 10

1. Assignment’s purpose
2. Methodology
3. Payment terms
4. Roles and responsibilities
5. Modalities for payment and deliverables
6. Contract dispute and resolution modalities

Question 11

Contract:

Add the following details in a contract

Answer 11

Contracting parties, the consultant and the client
Scope of the assignment
Work products and reports to be handed over to the client
Consultant and client inputs such as expert and staff time and other inputs
Fees and expenses
Billing and payment procedure
Professional responsibilities such as handling confidential information avoiding conflict of interest, and other aspects as appropriate
Copyright
Liability
Use of subcontractors by the consultant
Termination or revision
Arbitration
Signatures and dates

Question 12

5 The Execution Phase is where the consultancy services are carried out in accordance with the contract agreement

Answer 12

Review the consultancy agreement
Explain the consultancy process or methodology
Gather initial information
Implement the plan of action
Provide a timeline

Question 13

Diagnose:

Activities

Answer 13

Meeting with project team members
Generating an initial assessment plan
Reviewing the assessment plan for approval
Providing the assessment plan
Helping the project team leader with the necessary logistics
Conducting the assessment and making adjustments as needed
Requesting supporting documents or information
Collating the information from the assessment and documents provided
Having a quick review and overview
Communicating the preliminary key findings verbally to the project team leader

Question 14

Recommend:

Activities

Answer 14

Collating
Categorising
Identifying
Prioritising
Recommending

Question 15

3 Obtain Acceptance:

Activities

Answer 15

Sharing the findings and solutions
Finalising the findings, recommendations, outcomes and timelines by the consultant
Obtaining the management’s approval

Question 16

7 Implement:

Activities

Answer 16

Formalising the appointment of a project leader or leaders
Formalising team and members
Defining roles and responsibilities
Developing detailed action plans
Implementing action plans
Tracking progress and gathering evidence
Preparing a progress report

Question 17

4 Closure

Answer 17

Review the consultancy agreement
Review the progress of the consultancy execution
Review the timeline and deliverables achieved
Hold a closing meeting

Question 18

6 Review:

Activitites

Answer 18

The consultant is aware of the progress and issued encountred
Regular meetings are conducted with the team
Consultant works with the teams to provide further recommendations and changes
Consultant presents the updates and progress to the management, outlining the improvements
Consultant consolidates all the actual outcomes and compares them with the initially anticipated outcomes
Consultant prepares to present the details to the management as a report on the completion of the assignment