Project management
The process of project management in the consulting field
In the project management, management consulting is the act of providing independent professional advice to an organization to help the managers solve the business problems and achieve the organization purposes. The term independent means that consultants hold different principles and methods or they give an advisory service objectively and independently (Andler, 2011). The external consultant and the organization work together to solve the complex business problems, set common objectives and achieve common goals. In other words, the contracting parties and the organization understand the perspective and expectations of each other and both create a shared vision. Below is the project management process in the consulting field.
Entry
At this phase, the consultant enters in the organization and interacts with the client where they form a collaborative relationship. The consultant understands the primary problem and proposes the plans and approaches needed to solve the underlying business problem (Andler, 2011). Successful completion of the entry phase assures the consultant as well as the organization that the consultation will be successful. However, for the entry phase to be successful, the consultant should show the skills related to exploring problems, needs and determine priorities, communication and more
Diagnosis
Even though the consultant has gained valuable information at the entry phase, he employs a systematized approach to find facts, analyses, synthesize and give feedback to the organization (Andler, 2011). The consultant may gather information from organizational members to fully understand the problem, use the information needed to solve the problem and avoid uncertainty and ambiguity in addressing the issue. This phase is important as the consultant, and the client will discuss the factor and forces causing the problem.
Action planning
After diagnosing the problem, the consultant establishes possible solutions and gives the client the opportunity to make personal decisions based on the actions to be taken (Andler, 2011). Through a mutual understanding, the consultant and the client agree on the areas to act upon, and it is the role of the consultant to plan for the implementation.
Implementation
After the action planning, the consultation implements the proposed changes. Consultants and the client work together in adjusting the proposals and carrying out the specific activities (Andler, 2011). A training plan may be needed to provide the workers with instructional skills on the subject matter.
Termination
After implementing the changes, the consultant and the client evaluate the overall project and gives a final report to assess whether all activities are conducted and whether a successful conclusion has been made (Andler, 2011). They also focus on whether the goals and objectives have been met or there is a need for renegotiation.
Competencies of project management in the consulting field
A competent consultant project manager should use knowledge and experience in order to run the project efficiently and achieve adequate performance. He should also use the positive attitudes to portray positive behaviors such as fairness, interpersonal relationships, respect, trust and more (WILLS, 2017). Generally, a project manager consultant need the following;
Knowledge competence
The consultant should have a business knowledge which is based on skills, experiences, and ability to apply the work-related knowledge in analyzing problems, making decisions and implementing workable solutions.
Functional competence
The consultant should have the ability to perform work-based tasks, use the right work-force, manage the finance and follow proper practices and procedures. He should allocate the best resources and tools to complete the work and provide professional advice on how to perform the work.
Behavioral competence
The consultant should have positive behavior attribute in order to solve the problems and ensure adequate completion of the project (WILLS, 2017). For example, a consult should value team-work, communicate effectively, take initiatives, and focus on task completion in spite of obstacles, value diversity, and set priorities.
Ethical competence
The consultant should make sound judgments and adhere to professional values such as self-confidence, honesty, adaptability, responsibility and human dignity.
Benefits of setting project objectives
Project objectives play a significant role in helping the organization identify the destination and set plans towards achieving the destination. In other words, objectives act as a roadmap and give the organization an opportunity to set goal-related activities to achieve the intentions and desires. In addition, the organization can prioritize the best resources including time, workforce and capital (Andler, 2011). Generally, objectives facilities planning improves control performance and improves the decisions making process. Since the project management is completed by applying the five phases, objectives will focus on total quality management to achieve the desired outcomes.
Benefits of using SMART objectives in the consultancy field
SMART objectives help the business focus on areas of interest and create specific and measurable goals. For example, the organization will set well-defined objectives, evaluate whether the objectives can be accomplished, assess whether the organization has enough resources and time to complete the objectives, evaluate whether the goals fit the project and set the time bound for the project (Andler, 2011). Thus, SMART goals will allow the organization to set the destination, incorporate them by carrying the needed daily activities and gain self-confidence of achieving the goals.
References
Andler, N. (2011). Tools for project management, workshops and consulting: A must-have compendium
of essential tools and techniques. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH
WILLS, K. E. R. R. Y. (2017). CONSULTATIVE PM: An evolved model for project management
competencies. S.l.: LULU COM.
