What is the Single Most Valuable Outcome a Consulting Engagement Can Produce?

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3 minute read

Exploring the Apex of Consulting Engagements: Unlocking Systemic Change

In my recent ponderings, I found myself entrenched in an intricate query. At first glance, this question seems almost elusive: “What is the single most valuable outcome that a consulting engagement can produce?”

As I thought more about this, I realised that the answer might not be confined to just one aspect.

Come, journey with me as we venture through this interesting inquiry guided by the wisdom of the lean principle.  🚀

Scaling New Heights with the Lean Principle

As I pinpointed a singular outcome, I realised, “Man, I’m struggling because can it be one thing, right?”

Perhaps we should broaden our horizons, seeking answers that encapsulate a broader spectrum. Let’s apply some lean principle; if we can’t get to a thing, we need to go up one level.

This approach beckons us to ponder deeper, potentially uncovering systemic change as the focal point.

Embarking on the Road of Systemic Change

Some actual change in either the behaviour because you’ve changed the system, right?

The underlying intent here is to catalyse a tangible transformation, a change that reverberates through the entire organisational structure, altering the conventional systems in place.  💫

This transition is devised to harbour substantial business advantages, whether it’s a business benefit that the engineering teams can work faster or it’s a business benefit that the company can respond to the market more quickly.

A Challenge Yet Rewarding

However, fostering this transformation isn’t a walk in the park. It is indeed a journey filled with challenges, primarily because many people say they want to change but don’t actually want to do the things they need to do to change.

The comfort zone of existing practices often serves as a barrier, preventing individuals from stepping out and embracing the new, the unfamiliar.

Cultivating a Culture of Experimentation and Evolution

Despite the hurdles, the prospect of moulding a future where individuals are ready to try new things and experiment, knowing that not every idea will work out the way they want, is exhilarating.   🌱

When you witness people coming on board, willing to venture into the unknown, it marks the onset of what I perceive to be the most valuable outcome for a consulting engagement.

Some systemic change to the system enables something some desire that the business is looking for.

Transformation with Our Agile and Scrum Courses

As we stand at the threshold of significant transformations, I invite you to deepen your understanding and skills in Agile and Scrum. Our expertly crafted courses are your gateway to nurturing an adaptable mindset, ready to evolve with the dynamic shifts in the business landscape. 🌟

Become a change-maker in your organisation.

So the question is, what is the single most valuable outcome that a consulting engagement can produce? Man, I’m struggling because can it be one thing, right? Is it? Let’s apply some lean principle. If we can’t get to a thing, we need to go up one level. So perhaps systemic change. Some sort of actual change in either the behaviours because you’ve changed the system, right? I mean, that’s ultimately what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to change the system within which the organisation is functioning in order to get some business benefit, right? Whether that’s a business benefit of the engineering teams being able to work faster or it’s a business benefit that the company is able to respond to the market more quickly, whatever that business benefit is, that’s the outcome that you’re trying to achieve. And you’re only going to get that by actually changing the system. Quite often, that’s really difficult in organisations because lots of people say they want to change but then don’t actually want to do the things that they need to do in order to change. We kind of quite often feel comfortable with the way things are, right? And that can be, um, it can be really difficult to get people on board. But when you do have people on board and they’re willing to try new things and experiment, knowing that not every idea is going to work out, right? Then I think the single most valuable outcome for a consulting engagement is some kind of systemic change to the system that enables something, some desire that the business is looking for. Thanks for watching the video. If you enjoyed it, please like, follow, and subscribe. I always reply to comments, and if you want to have a chat about this or anything else, agile, scrum, or devops, then please book a coffee with me through Naked Agility.

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