Professional Services are on the rise. As the economy improves so does the demand for Business Consulting. The skills, abilities, resources, and knowledge to compete in the modern economy are extensive. They are beyond the grasp of even some of the largest corporations.
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Healthier economies breed competition as barriers to entrants are decreased. Competitive advantages that exist in an economic downturn are no longer as influential when the economy improves.
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to other organizations on management issues. These include strategic and organizational planning. They also cover financial planning and budgeting, as well as marketing objectives and policies. Additionally, they encompass human resource policies, practices and planning, along with production scheduling and control planning (Gov of Canada).

The process of Consulting not only involves representatives from the client organization, but it also requires it.
The project’s success is greatly increased as internal leaders take up the challenge to champion and own the new project.
BUSINESS CONSULTING STAGES

Having a thorough assessment of the problem to be solved is crucial to effective project planning.
Diagnosing the problem requires the knowledge of those on the ground. It often requires the help of a fresh perspective to consider novel solutions.
The organization’s internal project champion AND owner’s responsibility is particularly emphasized in the beginning.
The onset of the consulting process emphasizes the role of the internal project champion to ensure communication is clear
Whether the focus is strategy, operations, tax, finance, HR, or IT, business consultants are a staple of corporate life. Today, over 700,000 consulting firms provide services across virtually all aspects of business globally. Consultants define strategic direction. They also serve as an additional pair of hands for outsourced work. Consultants have become inextricably linked to the success of most large organizations.

The type of consulting offered will depend on the business, industry, and problem to be solved but the following service trends are present across these different areas:
The tools used are identified and tailored depending on the presenting problem and the organization’s needs. What is the problem to be solved and what are the intended goals? Starting with these questions the business consultant and internal stakeholders begin the journey of assessing the situation.

The Consulting Stages – Quiz
Business Consulting helps to bridge the corporate gap between the present and the desired future. The next step is to find what has been tried so far and design new solutions.

The project will not be executed effectively unless the assessment is correct. The desired goals will not be realized unless the solutions are appropriately identified.
Execution of the project then involves identifying who is responsible for each step. It also includes determining how success is going to be evaluated. Ensuring this information is freely available to everyone involved is important.
After the project is complete, the team will check it for progress. They will evaluate its impact. The team will compare it against the criterion for success. The consulting process concludes where it started. It assesses the business situation to confirm the problem was solved.
BUSINESS CONSULTATION PLANNING TOOL
Article: “Normative Models in Innovation Consulting” is available online: Enter
Travis Barker, MPA GCPM
Innovate Vancouver
Innovate Vancouver is a Technology and Business Innovation Consulting Service located in Vancouver, BC. Contact Innovate Vancouver to help with your new project. Innovate Vancouver also gives back to the community through business consulting services. Contact us for more details.
Resources:
Kaplan, S. (2017, September 11). The Business Consulting Industry Is Booming, and It’s About to Be Disrupted. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/soren-kaplan/the-business-consulting-industry-is-booming-and-it.html
Summary – Canadian Industry Statistics. (2017, May 31). Retrieved from https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/scr/app/cis/summary-sommaire/54161