How to plan a strategy consulting engagement with StratNavApp.com

Planning and executing a strategy consulting engagement can be challenging. I am sure that, as a strategy consultant, you have your own process and techniques.

In this article, we will look at how StratNavApp.com can help you to plan and execute a strategy consulting engagement.

How to plan your consulting engagements with StratNavApp.com

1. Create a new project
   
   You'll probably want a new project in StratNavApp.com for each new engagement. If you work on retainer, then you may only need a new project for each new client.
   
   Select Projects, then Create a New Project and follow the instructions.
   
   
2. Add the engagement brief to Project Description.
   
   Select the name of your project from the main menu and then Project Details. Copy and paste or type the engagement brief into the Description field. You can format it with bullets and other formatting as required.
   
   
3. Identify the key stakeholders for the engagement.
   
   There are typically two types of stakeholders: input stakeholders - people you will need to consult with in order to gain a detailed understanding of the business, and output stakeholders - people you will need to persuade to accept and execute the strategy. Sometimes, but not always, they are the same people.
   
   Add both types as stakeholders and record what you know about them.
   
   Select Governance, then Stakeholders, then People before adding each person.
   
   Use the LinkedIn search on the Person screen (if appropriate) to learn more about them (and get a photo of them to make it easier to start recognising them).
   
   
4. Plan your schedule of meetings and workshops with those stakeholders.
   
   In general start with the input stakeholders and work your way toward the output stakeholders.
   
   Select Governance then Meetings before adding each meeting.
   
   Specify the attendees, time and date venue and agenda for each meeting. Try to make sure you have clearly defined agendas for all of your meetings at least 2 weeks in advance.
   
   Make sure you send your agenda to all attendees before the session. You can use the button at the bottom of the Meeting page to generate a plan for the meeting in MS-Word format and mail it to the attendees if they are not StratNavApp.com users.
   
   
5. During the meeting, you can use the Run the Meeting mode to help to keep you on track.
   
   Click on the 'Clock' icon at the bottom of the meeting page to trigger the Run the Meeting mode.
   
   
6. At or immediately after each meeting.

1. Confirm the attendees.
   
   Perhaps not everyone attended? You can mark anyone who did not attend as an 'Apologee'.
   
   
2. Record the minutes.
   
   You can use StratNavApp.com to generate the minutes in MS-Word format to email them to any attendees who are not StratNavApp.com users.
   
   
3. Log any actions.
   
   Remember to establish accountabilities and due dates for those actions.
   
   
4. Create and/or link to any insights, initiatives or decisions highlighted, discussed or made at the meeting.

If you follow this approach, you will find that the insights and initiatives that make up your strategy start to build up almost effortlessly. You can then use StratNavApp.com to further build them out, and link them together as you develop and/or execute the overall business strategy.

Then at the end of the engagement, you can easily personalise and produce a comprehensive, neatly formatted and cross-reference report of the entire engagement.