Thesis (MAppSc (Project Management))--University of South Australia

This exploratory research addressed the challenge of improving consulting psychologists' ability to add value to their clients in a complex world, in which it is increasingly difficult to differentiate and understand domain phenomena and to promote healthy growth and development in individuals, groups and organisations. To solve this problem, a Gestalt Approach, comprising the String Model and a congruent methodological framework, was developed using analogies and metaphors from the physical sciences. The Gestalt Approach was applied at the individual, group and organisational levels. The String Model promoted excitement and interest in the client systems and desedimented preconceptions and patterns of thinking, facilitating the destruction of existing figures, and the differentiation and exploration of new figures from background phenomena. The methodological framework promoted experimentation and dialogue in an environment conducive to exploration and promoted contact with foreground phenomena. At the individual level, awareness was heightened of the role and development of a historically disadvantaged South African. The individual and the position for which he was being developed were described in terms of the String Model, creating insights which were not in the client system before. A clear, holistic picture of the individual's developmental areas emerged. The approach facilitated contact between the individual and key roleplayers who must create an enabling environment and provide resources conducive to individual development. At the group level, the String Model proved useful in assisting a Board of Directors to clearly differentiate the Board from other groups in the client system. Discussion amongst the participants, who had diverse perspectives, promoted a common understanding of the Board's structure and functioning. Participants were able to differentiate the current dysfunctional status of the Board from the ideal in String Model terms and develop a joint plan to make the Board a healthier entity. At the organisational level, the model according to which a gold mine was structured and managed, was changed due to insights engendered by the Gestalt Approach. The String Model proved to be useful in conceptualising the mine as a whole, with the various sub-systems thereof inextricably related. Changes were made that promote interaction, communication, integration and performance. / Industrial Psychology / D. Comm. (Industrial Psychology)

With a considerable number of built environment projects not being completed successfully, this study was undertaken to investigate how effectively consulting engineering firms are applying project management principles in the way they manage projects. This was achieved by measuring the project management maturity levels of consulting engineering firms. Maturity levels were measured for each of the ten knowledge areas of the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge to determine areas where consulting engineering firms perform below expectation and as a result determine probable causes of project failures. The maturity of the firm was then calculated as the average of the maturity for the knowledge areas. The study found that consulting engineering firms have higher levels of project management maturity than the average for the construction and civil engineering sector. Apart from risk and procurement management, all the other knowledge areas have higher maturity levels than the corresponding construction and civil engineering knowledge areas. Although the overall maturity results indicate that the larger firms are more mature in their project management practices than the smaller firms, the individual knowledge areas are inconsistent. The study reveals that consulting engineering firms are weakest in the risk management, human resources and stakeholder management knowledge areas. There is limited literature available on the status of project management, project management methodologies, and performance of consulting projects in the engineering environment (Labuschagne & Steyn, 2010:70). There is need for future studies to establish a methodology developed specifically for the Consulting Engineering Firms in line with what Labuschagne & Steyn (2010) started and a Project Management Maturity Model specific to the Consulting Engineering Industry.

Thesis (MTech (Quality))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology. / The global consulting industry has become a significant contributor to economies worldwide due to the growing requirement for specialised skills, but the industry encounters tense flaws and pitfalls. These pitfalls are related to the increasing amount of consulting engagements that fall short of their desired goal. The inability to fully achieve the goals agreed upon yields questions regarding the quality of service provided within the industry. It is believed that this inability to perform and to meet goals is due to gaps that occur within the consulting process. This research aims to determine whether there is a lack of quality in the full spectrum of the consulting process, which ultimately hampers the success of the consulting engagement. A non-empirical and qualitative research method was used to investigate the nature of the gaps and the main reasons for these gaps within the consulting process. A framework was developed in order to assist the researcher in understanding whether quality methods can successfully address or narrow the gaps in the consulting process that inhibit the success of consulting engagements or the ability to meet all requirements of consulting engagements. Validation was carried out through interviews with experts in the consulting industry. After a study of current literature it was clear that the fields of project management, change management and knowledge management are imperative when running a consulting engagement. Results of this study indicated that the framework is a viable quality methodology that can indeed be applied to address gaps in the consulting process. This is acquired through an interaction of fields such as systems thinking, audits, customer focus, corrective action and quality awareness. The framework was designed to add value and attempt to assure that the goals of consulting engagements can be fully achieved. Suggested further research includes the implementation of the framework in small consulting firms to investigate its practical usability and feasibility.

[pt] Nesta dissertação, procura-se analisar a forma como as organizações estabelecem suas identidades e de que maneira reforçam a identificação de seus funcionários com ela. Para tal, são estudados os conceitos de identidade e identificação organizacionais, suas ligações com as múltiplas forças que influenciam o comportamento dos indivíduos na empresa (identidades individuais) e os desafios de implementação de uma identificação eficiente, a fim de proporcionar uma gestão eficaz das relações da firma com seus funcionários. A pesquisa é baseada em um estudo de caso que possui, como cenário principal, uma empresa que vende serviços de consultoria e outsourcing. Foram realizadas 16 entrevistas, oito em cada uma dessas áreas de negócio. O foco da análise se concentra na maneira como a organização estabelece a sua identidade e facilita a identificação dos indivíduos nessas duas relações de trabalho. Os resultados apontam para a eficácia das ações organizacionais, uma vez que os empregados estão orgulhosos, otimistas, seguros e confiantes com suas carreiras dentro da companhia e apresentam um alto comprometimento e uma alta identificação com os valores, princípios, crenças, filosofias e objetivos da mesma. Verifica-se que, em grande parte, essa visão positiva se fundamenta na transparência dos discursos da empresa com relação ao gerenciamento de pessoas. Observa- se, ainda, a importância da gestão dessas expectativas, visto que possibilita um melhor alinhamento dos diversos contratos psicológicos existentes, de modo a permitir o sucesso da organização no competitivo mercado em que se encontra. / [en] This dissertation examines how organizations establish their identities and how they reinforce employees´ identification with them. To this purpose, the following topics are examined: The concepts of organizational identity and employees´ identification; the connection of these with the multiple forces that influence employees´ behavior within the company (individual identity); and the challenges of efficiently implementing an employee identification that will provide an effective tool to manage the relationship between the company and its employees. This research is based on a case study of a company that sells consulting and outsourcing services. Sixteen interviews were conducted - eight for each of these business areas. The analysis focuses on the ways this organization establishes its identity and facilitates employees´ identification in those two work areas. The results show the efficacy of the organization´s actions since its employees appear to be proud, optimistic, secure, and confident in their careers with the company. Furthermore, they indicate a strong commitment and identification with the organization´s values, principles, beliefs, philosophies and objectives. This positive outlook is, in great part, due to the organization´s transparency regarding the management of employees´ careers. In addition, it shows that managing these expectations is very important since it makes possible a better alignment of the company´s existing psychological contracts, thus leading to the organization´s success in the sector where it competes.

Test automation can decrease release cycle time for software systems compared to manual test execution. Manual test execution is also considered inefficient and error-prone. However, few companies have gotten far within the field of test automation. This thesis investigates how testing and test automation is conducted in a test consulting setting. It has been recognized that low test process maturity is common in customer projects and this has led to equally low system testability and stability. The study started with a literature survey which summarized the current state within the field of automated testing. This was followed by a consulting case study. In the case study it was investigated how the identified test process maturity problems affect the test consulting services. The consulting automated testing strategy (CATS) been developed to meet the current identified challenges in the domain. Customer guidelines which aim to increase the test process maturity in the customer organization have also been developed as a support to the strategy. Furthermore, the study has included both industrial and academic validation which has been conducted through interviews with consultant practitioners and researchers.

Comment se façonne, en pratique, la valeur d'une prestation de conseil en management ? Malgré le dynamisme du marché qui lui confère une légitimité de fait, le conseil en management est à la fois mal connu et brocardé par la critique : on s'interroge sur l'efficacité de ses méthodes, sur la valeur ajoutée de ses préconisations. Les outils de la sociologie pragmatiste permettent de jeter un éclairage nouveau sur ces questions, en contournant l'opposition classique entre une approche fonctionnaliste (rationnelle-technique) et une approche critique (psycho-sociale) du métier. L'argument central de la thèse est que le conseil en management doit être compris comme une performance entièrement tendue vers un enjeu d'efficacité pratique qui se découvre dans l'action. La valeur émerge de la prestation en train de se faire : elle sanctionne la félicité d'un attachement socio-technique entre le consultant et le système-client dans lequel il intervient. Basée sur une immersion complète de près de trois ans dans un cabinet international, la thèse est une ethnographie de la pratique des consultants en mission dans différents grands groupes. Elle décrypte, en particulier, cinq opérations de mise en valeur qui augmentent la densité et l'impact de l'activité de conseil en management dans les systèmes-clients : (1) la singularisation de la prestation, (2) la montée en compétence du consultant, (3) la production de son autorité, (4) la présentation graphique du diagnostic et (5) le signalement de l'activité. L'étude empirique de ces mécanismes permet d'alimenter une théorie pragmatiste de la valeur comme forme pratique d'attachement et de mieux comprendre les enjeux du capitalisme contemporain. / How does work the fabric of management consulting's value? Despite the dynamism of the market, consultants' practice remains poorly known and often criticized. One questions the efficacy of their methods and the general value added of their recommendations. The intellectual tools of the pragmatist sociology allow us to shed a new light on these matters, getting around the classic opposition between a functionalist (rational-technical) and a critical (psycho-social) approach to the practice. The key argument of the dissertation is that management consulting should be understood as a performance geared toward a practical efficacy. Value emerges from the service as it is being performed: it sanctions the felicity of a socio-technical attachment between consultants and their client-system. The dissertation is grounded on a complete involvement in a large French consulting firm, for about three years. It is an ethnographic account of the practices of consultants during their assignments within various large organizations. It decrypts specifically five valuation processes that intensify the density and the impact of the service in client-systems: (1) the singularization of the service, (2) the rise in competence of consultants,(3) the production of their authority, (4) the graphical presentation of the diagnosis and (5) the signaling of activity. The empirical study of such mechanisms fuels a pragmatist theory of value as a practical attachment and allows us to better understand the stakes of contemporaneous capitalism.

A definition of value, a higher order construct, how it is created and its constituents remains elusive. This research aims to explain value co-creation and its key enablers in the management consulting industry. Service Dominant Logic (S-DL) first published by Vargo & Lusch (2004) has fostered extensive debate ever since, and with the Service Logic theory of the so-called Nordic School of Marketing (Grönroos, 2011b) they have encouraged research on subjects under the optic of value co-creation (S-DL), value facilitation (SL) and exchange of service, arguing that value is only phenomenologically assessed by the customer (S-DL) and that the only real value is customer’s value-in-use (SL). The understanding of how value is co-created has been scarcely researched empirically as, for instance, Aarikka-Stenroos & Jaakkola (2012) have. Capabilities management has been related to a firm’s resources and the Resource-Based View (RBV); however, empirical research relating capabilities to the process of value co-creation in b2b context has also been discussed as sparse (Lindgreen, Hingley, Grant and Morgan, 2012).This research explores interconnectedness of value, relationship-interaction and dynamic capabilities in management consultancy, and responds to the following research question: What arrays of capabilities and interaction are required for management consulting sustained value-facilitation? The subjects of relationship and interaction are discussed as core to value co-creation while investigating the intervening role of dynamic capabilities. A qualitative abductive methodology is applied, founded on a critical realist philosophical argumentation. The iterative deductive-inductive methods involved in the abductive process ideally approach the open ended questions that emerge researching social phenomena. The data is obtained by elite interviews with executive consultants and CXO level customers, who have had profound experience of consulting assisted co-creation initiatives. Four abductive iterations of data collection and analysis are applied, departing from a theoretical framework that emerges from the review of extant literature and that is informed by the research question. The salient constructs from contextually complex discussions are analysed and lastly synthesized in an overarching model. This research contributes mainly in two areas: (1) The identification of relationship/interaction in consulting at the core of value co-creation, and its key characteristics as a dynamic context. Co-creation is proposed as an evolving-adaptive process dependent on relationship through interaction.(2) The identification of capabilities that allow relationship and co-creation and higher order capabilities that develop capabilities, which emerge from deliberate reflection of the consultant’s strategy. Such dynamic capabilities develop and orchestrate capabilities for value facilitation and customer value creation.

This diploma thesis deals with the evaluation of potential of consulting services in outgoing tourism. Based on several key research revealed that in the Czech Republic there is no specialized travel agency focused on consulting services. Demand for these services is quite high, people miss the personal approach and the opportunity to consult their holidays with a travel consultant. The solution could be to create a new travel agency ČambiTour with focuse on consulting services. Providing of these services, however, must be free of charge - Czechs have not been prepared to pay for these services yet. The main part of this thesis is focused on the establishment and development of new travel agency ČambiTour. Specifically, there is a business plan, marketing strategy and possible business risks analysis. There is also research of client satisfaction, SWOT analysis and possible options for future development of the company.

The present study was conducted to capture the collective voice of expert organizational development consultants. Until now, very few studies have been conducted that take into account the collective voices of organizational development consultants. More specifically, the purpose of the present study is to explore and gain a deeper understanding of the approaches expert organizational development consultants use throughout their engagement with their clients in an attempt to add value to and enhance organizational capacity. To understand the process used by this distinct group of leaders, phenomenological qualitative inquiry was the methodology used to conduct this study. Data were collected through in-depth, face-to-face interviews with seven practicing expert consultants in the Jacksonville, Florida area. Seven themes emerged through careful analysis of the data, supported with relevant concepts from the professional literature. The study has meaningful implications for the study of organization development consulting. It concludes with recommendations for consultants and researchers in the field of organizational development and change.