Finding Your Way in the Consulting Jungle : A Guidebook for Organization Development Practitioners

by Freedman, Arthur M.; Zackrison, Richard E.

• ISBN13: 9780787953003
• ISBN10: 0787953008
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-02-19
• Publisher: Pfeiffer

Summary

Chart your path in the consulting jungle! Finding Your Way in the Consulting Jungle--a book in The Practicing Organization Development series--offers OD consultants the information and guidance they need to understand their place in the consulting network, differentiate themselves from other types of consultants, and work with both clients and colleagues to make sure everyone's needs and expectations are met. Finding Your Way in the Consulting Jungle offers practical advice on how to: Differentiate and market yourself Interview prospective clients Write proposals "Transports the reader from the safety of the classroom into the complex, unpredictable and often hazardous world that they describe as 'the consultant jungle.' It is a great resource for graduate level OD programs, consultant training courses, AND corporate managers who hire consultants." --C. Patrick Fleenor, Ph.D., director, International Business Programs, Albers School of Business and Economics, Seattle University

Author Biography

ARTHUR M. FREEDMAN is director of OD and HRM masters degree programs at American University's School of Public Affairs. He is a past recipient of the American Psychological Association's RHR International Award for Excellence in Consulting Psychology and the past president of the Society of Psychologist in Management.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the Series	ix
Introduction to the Series	xi
Statement of the Board	xv
Acknowledgements	xxi
Introduction	1	(4)
Contacts with Potential Client Systems	5	(14)
Promotional and Marketing Options	6	(9)
A Strategy for Marketing Your Services	15	(1)
What's in a Name?	16	(1)
Summary	17	(2)
Does the Organization Need a Consultant?	19	(20)
Does the Organization Really Need a Consultant?	22	(1)
What Are the Agents' Perceptions of the Organization's Current Situation?	23	(10)
Assessing Organizational Readiness	33	(3)
Framing How the Organization Can Use an OD Consultant	36	(2)
Summary	38	(1)
Types of Consultants	39	(30)
The Four Types of Consultants	40	(8)
Which Type of Consultant Is Needed?	48	(8)
Multidisciplinary Consulting Teams	56	(1)
Matching Consultants with Purpose	57	(10)
Summary	67	(2)
Consulting Philosophy	69	(18)
Achieving Organizational Effectiveness	72	(3)
Treating the Entire Organization	75	(1)
Focusing on Causes, Not on Symptoms	76	(1)
Intervening at the Strategic Level, Rather Than Offering a Quick Fix	77	(2)
Identifying, Developing, and Utilizing Client Resources	79	(2)
Enabling Self-Determination for the Future	81	(1)
Dealing with Immediate, Real-Life Realities	81	(1)
Using a Holistic ``Helicopter'' Perspective	82	(2)
Summary	84	(3)
Consultant Competence	87	(20)
Four Competencies	87	(16)
Don't Confuse Experience with Competence	103	(3)
Summary	106	(1)
The Selection Interview	107	(34)
Avoiding Mistaken Identity	108	(1)
Doing Continuous Self-Assessment	108	(11)
Preparing for the Interview	119	(3)
Participating in the Selection Interview	122	(15)
Summary	137	(4)
Consulting Proposals and Contracts	141	(14)
Proposals	141	(9)
Contracts	150	(4)
Summary	154	(1)
Management of Change	155	(22)
Managing Implementation	156	(1)
Change Resisters and Change Seekers	157	(2)
Resistance to Change	159	(2)
Responses to Change Stimuli	161	(2)
Plans for Complex Systems Change	163	(4)
Formula for Facilitating Effective Change	167	(7)
Summary	174	(3)
Consultant Ethics	177	(20)
Values of OD Consultants	177	(4)
The Ethical Dilemma	181	(3)
An Integrated Code of Professional Conduct	184	(11)
Summary	195	(2)
References	197	(24)
About the Authors	221	(4)
About the Editors	225	(4)
Index	229