Why SPS consulting engagements work

SPS advantages

The SPS knowledge base, experience and education is directed at reducing client overwhelm, time and opportunity loss. SPS is dedicated to generating 'right the first time solutions' for client innovation and value performance expansion. This is achieved by identifying the correct jobs needing to be done through analysis and input. Connecting such input with results is often dependent on positive client and value network collaboration. SPS emphasizes productive relationship building and maintenance.

Along with communications training and creative work experience, as well as modern innovation tools and practices—and general knowledge of business and global issues—SPS can act as a third party in sensitive and strategic matters. SPS knowledge includes methods which analyze problems to find root causes and develop client preferred polices mitigate risk and support greater opportunity. For example, risk and quality management practices can be important in any type of organization. On any type of project—along with meeting the planned project objective(s)—the documentation and systems SPS co-creates with clients remain with clients for future use. ‘Occam’s Razor’ principle—the analytical principle of economical problem solving—always applies in SPS projects.

The benefits of hiring quality consultants

In strategic optimization situations, organizations can reap distinct value by contracting with consultants instead of hiring new employees. Some of the key advantages include:

• Obtaining special expertise without adding internal staff
• Flexible workforce scheduling
• Save on tax and benefits contributions

Advantage: Supporting Skills
Strategic optimization situations include hiring a consultant in order to gain access to unique skills, experience and perspectives that are scarce or nonexistent in your own company.

Advantage: Intelligent Advice
Great advice is the original and best reason to hire a consultant. The key of course is the reliability of the advice or solution. When reliable, the consultant 'trouble-shooting' role has many benefits. Sadly, the art of asking good questions, gathering information about problems and giving advice based on experience and observations has almost become a lost art among today's sea of 'consultants'. Many ‘consultants’ should more accurately describe themselves as independent contractors or technicians, not consultants.

Advantage: Outsider Perspective
A thorough, yet efficient and expeditious consultant identifies and adapts to the valuable aspects of the client perspective while bringing in new ideas and solutions. The key to efficient and effective ‘co-creation’ is not assuming the organization requires radical ‘transformation’ or elaborate TQM systems from the outset. Rather the right ‘job to be done’ is more likely a specific, thoroughly communicated innovation (or innovation management program) designed to enhance the positive fundamentals of the client’s existing business model. However, SPS is skilled in business model innovation when new business units and initiatives are required.

Additional traits of a quality consultant solution process:

• The quality consultant provides "right the first time" methods, planning and processes that can be easily linked to reducing risk, project costs and market responsiveness.
• The quality consultant expands existing organizational resources through research of competitive and appropriate third-party services and technologies. The quality consultant provides advice on, and manages competitive intelligence in concert with the client, especially when there is a ‘catch-up’ problem and there is not enough internal staff.
• The quality consultant recommends the right secondary partner to meet the client's requirements, as needed. Using the wrong procurement can be very expensive, in terms of overcharge due to incompatibility, poor quality management, and for other obvious reasons including loss control issues.
• The quality consultant never speaks down to their client in an abusive way, but out of respect to the client’s interests, does explain truthfully how and where management is at fault when warranted. This is an aspect of due diligence. Of course this is not the only way a quality consultant protects their client.
• Provides excellent documentation for project and project support activities. Lessons learned and project audits ensure the agreed client engagement was accomplished and the project knowledge value is not lost.
• The best quality results appear in execution and completion. The quality consultant also understands project risk management. Risk management is the planned avoidance of project failure.
• Ensures projects are accomplished on time, in a proper and professional manner.
• Acts as a partner in the design and execution process and strives for win-win business relationships with clients, their collaborative network and stakeholders. An active sense of co-creation is important for both parties.
• When projects are delayed by staff shortages, a consultant can reduce development time.
• A consultant's experience often means a minimal learning curve without the delays, costs or long-term risks of recruiting extra staff.
• Overhead and non-productive costs can be mitigated with a consultant. The client only pays for the time worked on the project. The consultant is motivated to accomplish the project under projected constraints. This is to impress you to get future work and to also add another successful project to the consultant’s value proposition.
• Project design costs are controlled to minimize hidden surprises to the client, and support the consultant’s bottom line. A quality consultant wants their estimate to succeed as planned or over-perform in order to win your repeat business and referral. Only earning your trust provides these kinds of intangible market premiums for SPS.