A set of skills useful for internal consultants, facilitators and technology professionals
Introduction
The course is designed for those who will perform in an internal consulting role and is oriented towards senior analysts, architects and strategists working in a corporate environment. Designed to take the team to a new level of knowledge, skill and performance, this is a skills course rather than a methodology course which will expose participants to leading techniques and ways of performing data collection, analysis, synthesis, facilitation, presentation, quality assurance and other commonly required professional and soft skills. Drawing upon 25+ years experience in business and academia, as well as industry best practice, the course will deliver a valuable set of tools to equip internal consultants and facilitators.
What differentiates this Course
Many senior people who have come up through the technical ranks (such as IT), or as specialists in a discipline, are expected to perform in internal consulting and leadership roles. Often, this is neither their core strength nor have they had formal training to assist them to perform effectively in these roles. This course raises the game and performance of these individuals, the teams in which they participate and the value of their contribution to the organisation as a result.
Course Overview
The course provides a solid foundation in core skills including:
• professional service behaviour;
• consultation process,;
• understanding problem spaces;
• presentation skills,;
• innovation and brainstorming techniques;
• gap analysis;
• developing roadmaps and milestones;
• supporting frameworks and models;
• use of repositories;
• use of learning organisation concepts.
It goes on to develop key performance areas including :
• facilitation;
• project planning and tracking;
• soft skills;
• business modeling and methods engineering;
• quality management courseware development and innovation.
Methodology
Rich use of examples and selected short videos stimulate participants to think beyond the norm and out of the box.
Participants are provided with sources of information for ongoing enrichment as well. Case study work in small teams allows participants to perform analysis and devise architectures and strategies.
Teams compete and learn from each other before experiencing another facet of the challenge. Enterprise tailored and rooted examples and problems allow ample exploration of concepts and alternatives while providing continuity and context. The course stresses holistic considerations and the interplay of many facets that affect the outcome of the consulting role.
2020
Australia
15 – 19 Jun | Sydney, Australia
26 – 30 Oct | Melbourne, Australia
Course Modules
• Professional Service Behaviour;
• The Consulting Process;
• Stakeholder Management;
• Analysing the Problem Space;
• Data Gathering, Organising, Interviewing;
• Filtering, Clustering;
• Systems Thinking, Rich Pictures;
• Force Field Analysis;
• Prioritisation;
• Presentation Skills;
• Brainstorming & Lateral Thinking;
• Scenario Planning;
• Gap Analysis;
• Frameworks and Reference Models;
• Understanding Models, Use of Models;
• Analysis Approaches
o Function;
o Process;
o Service;
o Capability;
o Data;
o Ontologies and Taxonomies;
o Roadmaps and Milestones;
o Project Estimating.
Subsequent Modules
• Facilitation;
• Project Planning/ Tracking;
• Soft Skills;
• Business Architecture and Methods Engineering;
• Quality Management;
• Courseware Development;
• Innovation.
Note: The syllabus is subject to change without notice and often, is done in consultation with the target enterprise.
Target Audience
[ Foundation Level ]
1. Senior analysts, architects and strategists working in a corporate environment.
2. People who already have technical competence and who are moving into advisory/consulting/coaching/facilitator roles.
Course Materials
Participants are provided with high-quality notes, links to media and references to pursue further investigation.
Prerequisites
There are no absolute or formal prerequisites to attend this course.
Important Note
This course is brought to you in partnership with Inspired and Graham McLeod.
Adult architect blueprint business image courtesy pixabay.com
How does this course help?
It will impart consulting skills and techniques to make competent technical people competent advisors/consultants.
Who is this course targeted towards?
People who already have technical competence and who are moving into advisory/consulting/coaching/facilitator roles.
What will you likely get out of this course?
A great deal of information on how and where to apply different techniques. You will learn many soft skills. You will get the confidence to operate in roles of advisor, consultant, presenter, coach and facilitator.
Who has taken this course and how has it helped them?
These include senior business analysts, enterprise architects, process analysts and data architects. Also, staff engaged in digital disruption projects, senior project managers and programme managers. Many of the participants have come from the telecommunications, finance and assurance sectors but it is certainly not limited to these. The course has helped them apply their core competence in roles where the people and soft skills, facilitation, presentation and human engagement are as important as the core technical aspects.
