Here's how you can navigate strategic decision-making in consulting.

The most important phrase in all consulting is; “what is in there for me?”. - Yes, consulting is about identifying personal interests of those you need support. Consulting is about influencing and you get nowhere without ability to provide something in return to people that you will be asking for help. Large organization is brutal bureaucracy you must navigate. Don't underestimate it personal interests always drives willingness to help. Why? Time. Because in consulting firms time equals money even more than anywhere else. So if you ask someone for their help you asking them for time. If you ask them to influence someone else on your behalf you also asking use time of someone else. It's compounding. Hence you must offer value in return.

Assessing client needs is a fundamental step in the consulting process. Some nuggets from experience: a. Listen to the client: what is the “real” issue they are trying to address? This stays important across the entire life cycle of client engagement. b. One to one interview(s) with client representatives (and/or stakeholders, as required). c. Workshops to facilitate open discussions and identify challenges. d. Client context and Industry benchmarking, which may include competitor analysis, trends, etc. Consider the option of using SWOT Analysis, PESTLE, 7S Model, etc. depending upon the needs of the particular engagement. e. Root cause analysis of the symptoms presented or identified above. f. Key risks identified, if any

Consulting thrives on strong strategic choices. Here's how to navigate them: Frame the Issue: Clearly define the problem and desired outcome. Align with the client's vision and mission Gather & Analyze: Research the market, competition, and internal data. Use frameworks to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) Build Options: Brainstorm creative solutions with the client team. Consider feasibility, risks, and potential impacts Evaluate & Recommend: Weigh the pros and cons of each option. Use data, logic, and client priorities to make a data-driven recommendation Communicate Clearly: Present findings and recommendations persuasively. Highlight potential roadblocks and mitigation strategies.

Strategy is about identifying a set of challenges and coming up with ideas, policies and actions to overcome them – which is a long way of saying that you need to understand as much possible about the client needs and context. This is where Data comes to your aid. Next, however, you shouldn't move into recommendations right away. Take your time to come up with 2-3 radically different courses of actions to face the challenge, then refer back to the data to assess which one is best... and then discuss with your client to make final decision.

In consulting, strategic decision-making involves understanding client objectives, analyzing data, and evaluating risks. Consultants collaborate with stakeholders, consider diverse solutions, and communicate decisions clearly. They monitor progress, adapting strategies based on feedback and results. By employing this comprehensive approach, consultants drive positive outcomes and effectively address client challenges, fostering long-term success in the dynamic consulting landscape.

Identifying options is one of the important aspects of consulting . In discovery phase understanding client's pain points, understanding client's current state , vision, mission and timeline, we need to propose the future state with alignment of client's need. Here we need to propose multiple options to clients to choose. This help in decision making.

Building on the assessment, the consultants brainstorm various strategies. They consider options such as introducing personalized in-flight experiences, partnering with local tourism boards for destination packages, or implementing a dynamic pricing model to fill empty seats. By exploring a range of possibilities, they ensure they don't overlook potentially innovative solutions.

Após avaliar as necessidades, explore várias opções estratégicas. Considere diferentes abordagens e soluções que possam ajudar a alcançar os objetivos do negócio.

Impact analysis is an important step before any recommendations . Each options has pros and cons . we need to analyze with different scientific ways available for different areas of business before proposing to client .some of them are SWOT analysis, Fishbone analysis etc.

Avalie o impacto potencial de cada opção. Isso pode incluir a análise de custo-benefício, o impacto nos stakeholders e a viabilidade de implementação.

Remember that stakeholders include not only external but also internal stakeholders. Internal stakeholders include other units, functions or departments; staff; procedure dependencies and similar. This is sometimes overlooked leading to resolving an issue at one end and creating more somewhere else.

Recognizing the importance of stakeholder involvement, the consultants organize workshops with airline staff, including pilots, flight attendants, and ground crew. They seek input on the proposed strategies, gathering frontline insights on the feasibility and potential challenges of implementation. This collaborative approach ensures buy-in across the organization, enhancing the likelihood of successful strategy execution.

Mantenha os stakeholders informados e envolvidos durante todo o processo. Seu feedback e apoio são cruciais para a implementação bem-sucedida da estratégia

Always remember that your are advising and not imposing. Remember also that a problem may be resolved using various strategies. And although it is sometimes painful to see your reasoned, evidence-based proposal not being fully taken up, the decision-maker may have valid reasons for not doing so (e.g. predicted impact on internal culture; timing). Always advise but allow decision-makers the space and freedom to determine what is best for their organisation. Irrespective of their choice, you have opened up new doors and perspectives for them and that is a value-add they really appreciate and respect.

With thorough analysis and stakeholder engagement, the consulting team facilitates a decision-making workshop with the airline's leadership. Together, they weigh the risks and benefits of each option, considering factors such as market competitiveness, resource allocation, and anticipated customer demand. After deliberation, they agree to prioritize the introduction of personalized in-flight experiences, believing it aligns best with the airline's brand differentiation strategy and customer preferences.

Com base na análise de impacto e no feedback dos stakeholders, tome uma decisão informada. Lembre-se de que a decisão deve alinhar-se com os objetivos estratégicos do negócio.

Following the decision, the consultants work closely with the airline's management to develop an implementation plan. They define project milestones, allocate resources, and establish communication channels for monitoring progress. Regular check-ins and performance metrics allow for adjustments as needed, ensuring the successful execution of the chosen strategy and ultimately enhancing the airline's competitive position in the market.

Após a decisão, passe para a fase de implementação. Isso pode envolver a mobilização de recursos, a definição de cronogramas e a monitorização do progresso.

Strategic decision-making in consulting involves a blend of analytical rigor, creative problem-solving, and effective communication. Here is a step-by-step guide to navigating it: 1. Understand: Know the client's situation. 2. Define: Clarify the problem. 3. Gather Data: Collect relevant information. 4. Analyze: Extract insights. 5. Generate Options: Brainstorm solutions. 6. Evaluate: Assess options. 7. Recommend: Propose actionable suggestions. 8. Communicate: Present clearly. 9. Refine: Improve based on feedback. 10. Support Implementation: Assist with execution. You can effectively guide strategic decision-making in consulting and provide value to clients by utilizing your analytical skills, industry knowledge, and expertise.

Além disso, considere fatores como mudanças no mercado, feedback do cliente e inovações tecnológicas. Esses elementos podem influenciar a estratégia e exigir ajustes ao longo do caminho.