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MQM 326 Ch 7 & 8. Thinking Like a Consultant From Insight To Impact: Communicating To Influence. Model Building. Asking the 5 whys Determining and listing the issues Developing and issue tree. Senge’s Ladder Of Influence. We observe things We select what to pay attention to
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MQM 326Ch 7 & 8 Thinking Like a Consultant From Insight To Impact: Communicating To Influence
Model Building • Asking the 5 whys • Determining and listing the issues • Developing and issue tree
Senge’s Ladder Of Influence • We observe things • We select what to pay attention to • We make assumptions and attribute meaning to our observations • We make inferences and draw conclusions • We take action
Model Building • We all do it, however, some are better than others • Disciplined thinking is the key, along with • The degree of attention we pay to the process, and • our past training and experiences
Causal Models • A backward chain of cause-event relationships • These are either positive (increase in one causes and increase in another) • Or negative (an increase in one causes a decrease in another) • Caveat (rarely will a problem be rooted in only one underlying cause)
Systemic Models • Consists of interdependent elements that act on each other in ways that produce more than a linear chain of actions and reactions, and so generates outcomes that are difficult to anticipate from simple cause-effect reasoning.
Systemic Models • Call attention to; • Unanticipated effects of actions • Hidden or latent variables • Time lags between cause and effect • Mutual interdependencies • Virtuous cycles/ vicious cycles
Building A Unique Model • Listing—Identifying all issues that are seemingly related to the “effect” • Pruning– Eliminating issues that are too highly related or un-measurable • Clustering– Grouping related issues together into larger categories and factors and eliminating duplicate issues. • Linking—Connecting related issues through directed causal links
Building A Unique Model • Use this approach (Systemic Model0 especially with problems that lack clarity, many factors are relevant, and there is disagreement over which are key issues
Best Practices For Reports or presentations • Should be used as a thinking tool • Should be the basis on which the project is managed, tasks are allocated, and progress is checked • Should have a strong framework or model
Best Practices For Reports or presentations • Should be written in persuasive story like narrative • Focus not on the process but rather the impact of the analysis • Keep the audience firmly in mind at all times
Rhetoric • The art of communication in order to persuade • Who is my audience? • What do they want to hear? • What is their knowledge base? • What do I want them to understand or do differently? • How can I best get them to hear or understand me?
“Telling Stories” • Creating effective narratives for communicating, understanding, and motivating changes of belief and action
Communicating • Begin with original framework or model • Build an argument or narrative on that foundation • Remember that this is a selling process
Logic • Horizontal logic– the overall structure of the document, report, or presentation • Vertical logic– relates to each idea or point as a discrete whole with data arranged and organized in a compelling manner to support the central idea or point • Key is balance between the two
The Consulting Report: Format And Logic • The format of the report drives the main argument • It indicates which ideas or data are of equivalent importance, and which are subordinate • It shows how these ideas support the key points or arguments of the report
The Consulting Report: Format And Logic (Book Examples) • Page • Headline or Header • Dot Point (Or Bullet Point) and Dash Point • Trailer or Footer • Facer Page
Editing • Create temporal distance from the document • Utilize colleagues for editing • Always edit from the “top down” • To test horizontal logic, concentrate on the headlines • Be attentive to the audience’s perspective
Editing • To test vertical logic, examine the relationship between the headline and the rest of the page, is the headline supported directly and effectively? • Pay attention to graphics, Make sure that they relay the point immediately and effectively
Graphics • Above all else, show the data • Maximize the data-ink ratio • Erase non-data ink • Erase redundant ink • Revise and edit
The Report • Remember that the report is not an end in itself but rather a means to an end • Focus your efforts on trying to ensure that the audience hears, understands, and is willing to act on your ideas.