Consultant skills for discovery phase and data collection
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Please answer the below questions. Please use chapters that are attached.
Of the nine specific skills involved in the discovery phase, which two or three skills do you consider the most important? Why do you consider those skills the most important? Which skills do you think you need to develop the most? Why?
Of the six ways the textbook describes to collect data, which do you think will be most useful to you in your consulting work? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method of collecting data?
How might a consultant seek to engage others in the change process? Why is engagement important to successful implementation? How might engagement techniques with management differ from techniques you might use to engage staff employees?
What are some tools a consultant may use to engage the client in the discovery phase? How would these help you with your consulting project for this course?
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Solution Summary
Why do you consider those skills the most important?
In order to get all the issues that the customer is facing on the table, it is imperative that they are involved in the entire process. The collecting and interpreting of the data in a joint effort gives the client an opportunity to see the problems from a different perspective. It also makes them feel involved which gains buy in when making tough decisions. It is human nature for management to avoid conflict and in many cases this is the root cause of the issues they face. From not properly addressing and handling situations, management has colluded with the group and without realizing their flaws, management and their leadership is one of the key components that have to be addressed.
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Of the nine specific skills involved in the discovery phase, which two or three skills do you consider the most important?
The two areas that are the most important during discovery when taking on a new client are:
Plan the data collection jointly with the client.
Involve your client in interpreting the data collected.
Why do you consider those skills the most important?
In order to get all the issues that the customer is facing on the table, it is imperative that they are involved in the entire process. The collecting and interpreting of the data in a joint effort gives the client an opportunity to see the problems from a different perspective. It also makes them feel involved which gains buy in when making tough decisions. It is human nature for management to avoid conflict and in many cases this is the root cause of the issues they face. From not properly addressing and handling situations, management has colluded with the group and without realizing their flaws, management and their leadership is one of the key components that have to be addressed.
By beginning your discovery with the perspective of client involvement throughout the process, it will give the consultant the advantage of working out the issues in a non confrontational approach. This will be a key for the success of the project.
As stated in the text a core strategy for building emotional commitment to implementation is to design new ways for people to engage each other. This may be more critical than the clarity or rightness of a decision. Results are achieved when members of a system collectively choose to move in a certain direction. It is this act of choice that is critical. Leadership behavior is not as vital as membership behavior. It is difficult for a patriarchal society such as ours to accept this reality. We tenaciously hold on to the belief that leaders can induce others to act. Leaders can no more induce action on the part of their followers than consultants can induce action on the part of their clients.
Which skills do you think you need to develop the most?
One of the key skill sets to develop is grasping the complexity of the issue and how to use my biases in a positive manner and not let them get in the way.
The other critical skill to develop is the ...
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