Making Decisions and Solving Problems in Business - Essay Example

Business Consulting Business Consulting Introduction Making decisions and solving problems are real daunting tasks that managers face. Formulation and implementation of critical policies that transform a business may sometimes require external assistance. Managers have realized that finding a specialist from outside; someone with vast experience and expertise into the related issues a business is handling to help give a way forwardness, is one of the best moves enterprises that are keen and oriented to success can ever make (Brooks & Edwards, n.d., pp. 15-16). The art of consulting has been predominantly used almost across all professions to refer to seeking for an expert opinion from someone held with high esteem. The analytical skills and in-depth knowledge about the topic or discipline in question defines a consultant. Similarly, businesses have consultants who specialize in investigating and evaluating business challenges and propose the best solutions and approaches through which they can be curbed. Business consulting has been extensively used as a tool of development and has since transformed many firms. Businesses are becoming more successful through consulting. The approach that business consultants as well as their clients are currently giving consultation is not exactly the same as that of the past. Consulting in business has deep-rooted history as it did not just start the other day. However, there are modifications and changes that have been effected which have undoubtedly benefited the business fraternity. The main difference between the traditional and the new consulting systems is on the approach the two take. The ancient one focused more on the issue or problem at hand while the modern approaches are much more oriented to outcomes. Results matter more than the problem and effectiveness is preferred to efficiency. Business consultants in the contemporary society recognize that giving a single permanent approach to an issue is misleading with the changing times hence tackling an issue as it presents itself is much more tactful and effective. It is this realization that have informed the consultants that whatever the approach or strategy they used in one organization or company and was successful may not necessarily solve another company’s problems. This is because different factors such organizational structure, human resource and customers’ dynamics, industry and level competition among others (Brooks & Edwards, n.d., p. 24). There are several changes that have been identified in the business consulting framework. The sustainability of business consulting majorly relies on the approaches taken by professional consultant with regard to the uniqueness that exist among many firm. It is faulty to blindly attend to a client with presumptions that had already been formed on another business. This revelation is, therefore, directing the professional consultants into revising their methods so as to sustain the profession. Consultants are expected to deliver positive results and not just ‘travel’ with the business through their journey of trouble. They should find ways of diverting the ship towards the dry lands when the object is sinking. It is for this reason that they would find ways of implementing the suggested recommendations to either kick-start or restore the business’ high performance. Consequently, with the changing times and advancements in technology, the issues and problems that consultants are presented with are not the same as those in the past. More innovations obviously lead to more complicated puzzles that most businesses and companies cannot solve. The clients, therefore, table these issues to consultants who are expected to be not only knowledgeable but also tactful enough to go about it. This is a concern that has since stimulated the professionals in the business consultancy into generating solutions that are dynamic rather than the traditional static ones. To keep updated with the new trends and uprisings of problems, the consultants have engaged in constant investigations and enquiries. The shift to inquiry is a major stride that business consultants have made in the recent past. This is a system in which accurate investigations are done concerning the problem in a holistic manner that eventually encloses every aspect that would otherwise be having any contribution to the challenge. The need to incorporate humans in understanding ad seeking for solutions to technical problems has been lately emphasized. Although what is aimed at is the positive result, the process must be well formulated and investigated for an accurate outcome to be achieved. What the businesses do is to bulk the work on the consultants and it is the work of the expert consultants to ensure that their outcomes are well investigated and founded on accurate information that is true to the problem presented. To promote effective consultation for business growth and development, an all-round interaction with various units and departments is required. Effective interaction translates to sufficient information. There are some issues that could impede an organization’s development that are latently unseen and only through knowing every nook and cranny of the business can help a consultant give the best workable solutions that can deliver results. One of the things to do is to have a free-flowing interaction within the organization in such a way that from the top to the bottom, issues that are affecting the personnel are well understood. This can be done through intensive investigation as well as properly executed analysis. Having the top departmental managers close to one another is also effective in unveiling some of the existing challenges. Having listening and speaking skills are among the best ways to promote interaction. Mutual respect between the two parties; the consultant and the business is a prerequisite for a good interaction to be achieved. A positive relationship should then follow between the consultant and the business. This relationship can be created through honesty and trust. Evidently, there is doubt if it is really possible that the hired consultant will be of any value. The consultant is, therefore, tasked with instilling a sense of trust and belief such that the client they are dealing with can relate and interact with them enthusiastically with some strips of trust. Actions of honesty and assurance obviously neutralize the doubts in the clients mind and this is what the consultant ought to do right from the start. Getting the client’s emotions calm is a relationship-building mechanism. Clients usually come to the consultant when they are restless an uneasy and its them (consultants) that have to restore this calmness through paying attention to what the client is explaining among others(Brooks & Edwards, n.d., p. 47-55). Conclusion In conclusion, as demonstrated, professional consultation is key in the success in any organization not only those in business. Problems and challenges do occur and it is a ‘third eye’ that can easily identify and strategically approach the issue from a different point-view that yields desirable outcomes. As history indicates, this practice did not begin recently as it have roots spread deep into the historical soils. Recently, changes have been made and great shifts have been evidenced in the manner business consulting practices are carried out. The traditional ones where rigidity and constancy is used to tackle challenges have been replaced with more flexible and goal-oriented dynamic mechanisms. It is also to worthy acknowledging that these changes have worked positively for the success of the organization. However, effective consultancy comes with many tasks that require the consultant to devise appropriate ways of interacting and creating healthy relationships with the business that has presented itself as a client. Honesty, good listening and speaking skill, paying attention among others are some of those practices that develop these. References Brooks, A., & Edwards, K. Consulting in uncertainty. 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