Project Assessment & Consultancy Skills for Technical Professionals

Course Code - BC-503 Duration - 3 Days

The role of the consultant is not only vital for the success of a project but also for the development of customer relationships and in helping to secure further business and business opportunities.

This intensive 3-day programme will provide attendees with a high level of understanding and experience in consultancy and intervention skills.

It will give technical professionals the skills to assess, prioritise and manage complex interactions with a client company, either in ICT, engineering or other technically challenging installations.

Through case study, the attendees take the role of an external consultant facing the business and technical issues/decisions that they will deal with in the ‘real world’.

Who Should Attend

The programme is intended for technical professionals working in a customer-facing role. It will also be of benefit to those involved in business-process generally.

Course Content

Case Study - Overview

• Company Objectives

Consultancy Fundamentals – Overview

• The Role
• Consultancy Objectives
• Setting expectations
• Processes
• Efficiency and Effectiveness
• Model for Change
• Model for Interventions

Current Situation Appraisal

• Technology infrastructure
• Business systems
• Staff competence and skills
• Interactions with Customers
• Interactions with Suppliers
• Cost associated with current processes (lost opportunities, administration, etc.)

Future Options - Analysis

• Technology infrastructure
• Business systems
• Staff competence and skills
• Interactions with Customers
• Interactions with Suppliers
• Cost associated with current processes (lost opportunities, administration, etc.)

The Change Formulae

• Requirements for change

Consultancy Techniques & Style (1)

• Client relationships (P/A/C)
• Outcomes
• Agreeing scope
  • Principles of Process
  • Improvement
  • Business definitions
  • Waste inefficiencies
  • ICT relevance and examples
• Assignment Objectives

Scoping Interventions

• Agreeing the ‘ins/outs’
• Growing and controlling

Information Gathering (1)

• Interviews
• Information Gathering Workshops
• Questioning approaches
• Listening skills

Information Gathering (2)

• Process Mapping
• Data Flow Diagrams
• Critique

Analysis

• Critique and Review of current operations
• Identification of cost associated with current situation

Problem Solving

• Problem solving techniques
• Cause and Effect
• Brainstorming

The Business Case

• Building the ‘Business Case’ - A case for change

Stakeholder Management

• Identifying the stakeholders Agreeing actions & inputs required
• Clear communications with stakeholders
• Managing the stress

Prioritisation

• Personal productivity & priorities
• Competing priorities
• Medium & long term planning
• Identifying pressure points

Commitment

• Agreeing the actions
• Ensuring ownership
• Managing the change process

Closure

• Closing the assignment
• Evaluation
• Reviewing the benefits
• Realigning the changes

Consultancy Techniques & Style (2)

• The role of facilitation
• Handling difficult people and managing conflict
• Classic ‘signals’
• Soft skills

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