Q) What's the idea behind this approach?
Often management teams cannot see the forest from trees and get bogged down in their own respective business areas. Often they cannot focus on the big picture, cannot prioritize objectively and do not have all the information and facts needed to move quickly and decisively. Operational Excellence in Ninety Days brings the management team together using Inward's Visioneering™ process, a facilitated workshop, that creates a clear vision of what the team can do together to address the current needs of the company. Initially, Operational Excellence in Ninety Days focuses on cutting costs, spending smarter and generating new revenue. However, the process can be used in any challenging or change management environment.
Q) What do you do in the workshop an how is it conducted?
The workshop consists of three steps:
First, we create a team ambition by consensus with full participation of all the team members. We divide the participants into pairs of two. Through our process, the pairs envision what can be done around predetermined topic areas and share their ideas with each other. They record their ideas on post-it notes and present them to the rest of the group. As this happens Inward facilitators categorize the ideas into meaningful and logical groupings. Then the team as a whole prioritizes the distinct ideas that will have the greatest impact on the organization.
In the second step, we identify the barriers that may prevent the organization from adopting the prioritized ideas created in step one. This is achieved in the same consensus and priority setting fashion as stated earlier. A productive conversation takes place with attempts to understand how to resolve issues and barriers so the team may become focused on action.
Third, we list the barriers/tasks that have to be achieved or overcome within the next thirty, sixty and ninety days to achieve the goals set at the beginning of the session. Specific assignments and responsibilities are designated to team members. Inward facilitates this process and ensures commitment; recognition and rewards are outlined and project management assistance is available as needed.
Q) How long does it take to conduct a workshop?
In most cases, the workshop can be achieved in one hardworking long day. The sessions are usually off-site, with few breaks and no interruptions. In addition, Inward consultants work with the client in advance for a day or more to plan and prepare for the session.
Q) Who participates in these sessions?
Generally, the senior and divisional operational management team participates in addition to those individuals who have P&L responsibility. The people in the session must have the authority to implement the recommended actions and be accountable to the other team members. The session often is composed of executive or operating committees of the organization and consists of twenty-five individuals or less.
Q) What is the deliverable at the end of the session?
After the session, Inward will prepare a detailed summary of the sessions, the priorities outlined and the decisions that were agreed upon. In addition, we prepare a grid of the assignments and accountabilities for each of the individuals clarifying who will assist them in the task and who will support them to complete the task. In some cases, Inward will also provide project management support to each task leader to ensure positive progress is being made and help eliminate barriers.
Q) How is this approach different from traditional consulting assignments?
Traditional consulting firms are excellent at employing scores of bright (and expensive) people to study a situation, come up with a solution and then leave a blue print behind for the company to implement. Our firm recognizes that in most problem situations, key managers and staff actually have the knowledge, insights and capabilities to do the job themselves. Hence an "Inward" approach. All they are lacking is the process, structure and possibly senior management support to get the job done. Imagine the benefits Inward delivers when using proven processes and acting as "coaches" to deliver solutions internally.
Q) How much does Operational Excellence In Ninety Days using the Visioneering™ workshop cost?
The workshop is divided into three efforts: 1) preparation in advance of the workshop, 2) the workshop off-site session and 3) the report of the assignments and accountabilities. This activity usually takes three to four days of intense effort. We have priced the work to be value added and to introduce your company to our firm and our methodologies. As a result, the fees are surprisingly affordable and relatively inexpensive in comparison with the money that will be saved as a result of going through the process.
For more specific pricing information contact Allan Steinmetz at 617-558-9770 or via email at asteinmetz@inwardconsulting.com.
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