Image via Wikipedia Highlights from Mintzberg ‘s The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning Ch 1: planning and strategy. Mintzberg offers definitions in this chapter. He asks “Is strategy making simply a process of planning or is it simply an oxymoron? Should strategy always be planned, never be planned or sometimes be planned? What’s the […]
Tag: consulting
Integrated strategic change and how it differs from traditional strategic planning and traditional planned organization change
Image via Wikipedia Cummings and Worley define the concept of integrated strategic change (ISC) as a comprehensive OD intervention that examines how plan change that can add value to strategic management. The integrative piece looks at a synthesis of business strategies and organizational systems responding together to external and/or internal disruptions. This strategic change plan […]
Complexity in process consulting: a good thing?
Image via Wikipedia A colleague used the word “simplistic” in describing the 10 principles of process consulting offered by Ed Schein. I interpreted his use of the word simplistic in describing shines 10 principles as a negative thing. There’s a part of me that remembers the 10 Commandments are simplistic too. In my studies of […]
The persona of the process consultant: is it intentional or assigned?
Image by Getty Images via Daylife I’m wondering if you have ever had the experience of deliberately planning your relationship to the organization you’re trying to help change. I am discovering that I tend to have a particular role that I favor witches being an expert. Sometimes when I act as an expert by taking […]
How important is contextual knowledge for process consultants in business settings?
Image via Wikipedia am interested in knowing in what two or three adjectives you would use to describe the essential nature of the environment that you operate in for your business. What do you consider to be the most important environmental influences on the system that is your business? Is your environment something that your […]
Thought experiment for contract teachers
Image via Wikipedia in your capacity as a contract employee as a teacher, did you find that your employer’s request for you to offer expert advice conflicted with your perceived role as a teacher? One of our most important learnings about the use of contract services in the Department of Defense are the challenges of […]
Planning considerations for “insider” consultants
Image via Wikipedia as an inside consultant with considerable knowledge of the status quo, what kinds of procedures or checklists or attitudes do you think are necessary to ensure that we are taking a fresh look at a well-known situation to find root causes? How dangerous is it for the organization to have OD consultants […]
Models of consulting vs organizational politics
Image via Wikipedia If you have had an opportunity to observe organizational politics and a number of different settings in your work experience, I’d be interested in knowing your thoughts: Which of the three change models (expert, doctor-patient; process consultation)do you think best reflects the reality of organizational politics based on your work experiences? In […]
Information technology: integrating IT into Strategic planning
Image by Chris Pirillo via Flickr Your information technology department MUST be part of your strategic planning process for our value can be created and multiplied2 reasons: 1. they have possibilities and enablers that may suggest new ways that your value can be created,d explanded, multplied, leveraged 2. if they don’t know where you are […]
is there a difference between coaching and mentoring?
Image by bluehenfoto via Flickr Here are the differences I see between coaches and mentors: 1. to me coaching is about improving performance first and the person second. I see mentors focused on individual growth, holistically, rather than specific or particular performance. 2. I think the coach gets his power or authority from the formal […]