If you are wondering how to define a business problem, it is important to find a business advisor who understands consulting process. The starting points of any engagement are;
- Defining the problem
- Defining the goal
- Setting the parameters for the project.
In the consulting diagnosis phase, business advisors gather data to identify the influences, key factors and forces that are impacting a business situation.
Diagnosing problems requires working closely with management and operational teams while remaining at arms length from internal issues and influences. The issues may be technical, strategic, inter-personal, financial or a combination of other concerns. They may or may not be readily apparent. The critical objective is to clarify the goals of the engagement and keep those goals the primary focus.
Each consulting engagement requires a framework to identify and analyze root causes rather than focusing on the symptoms of problems. Typically, the diagnosis stage is conducted separately from the action planning stage to avoid jumping to conclusions.
Skilled business advisors are aware that identified client issues such as plummeting sales are a symptom of a greater issues that may be influenced by a variety of inputs. It is the job of the business consultant to avoid pre-conceived solutions or viewing the issue through the lens of only one discipline such as sales, IT or engineering. An inter-disciplinary view avoids compartmentalizing problems and solutions.
Front Porch Perspectives is a BC consulting company that uses a consulting process as outlined in the Certified Management Consultant or CMC-Canada Common Body of Knowledge.