Our Approach | Publications | Who We Are | Training & Consulting | Client Solutions | Home

APRIL 2006

Subscribe to the Newsletter See Newsletter Archive

	The Perfect Storm QUOTE “Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives. ”  William James		The Perfect Storm - perhaps you’ve seen the movie or read the book.  The basic idea is that three unusual meteorological events come together at just the right time and place, creating a storm of extreme intensity and magnitude.  Similarly, a Perfect Storm is brewing across the waters of today’s business environment.  It's effect will increasingly impact virtually every company and government agency.  Organizations need to understand the ingredients of the perfect storm so they can begin to chart a course to successfully navigate through it.  Let’s take a look at the three “storms.” Globalization: No longer are we working within defined confines - information and knowledge are flowing everywhere, and competition is anywhere.  The need to do it better, faster, and cheaper has never been greater, and companies are increasingly looking globally to get it done.  Transactional work is being outsourced and automated, leaving U.S. organizations with complex knowledge work and the need for accelerated innovation to stay relevant in the global marketplace. The Shift to Solutions: Our customers’ needs have become so complex and sophisticated that off-the-shelf products and routine services increasingly fall short of expectations.  The need for customized solutions has never been greater.  This shift requires organizations to work differently - to move from a traditional “transactional” approach to a more consultative team-based operation. Functional/Hierarchical Structures: Many organizations are still traditionally organized and are heading into the eye of the storm.  People in these traditional structures tend to work in silos.  Communications and relationships between departments are typically ineffective and often adversarial.  These silos restrict the sharing of resources, ideas, and knowledge.  Teams, the operational entity needed to perform complex knowledge work, accelerate innovation, and sell, develop, and deliver custom solutions, are disempowered in such an environment.  Unresolved conflict runs rampant, productivity and capability suffer, and relevancy in the global marketplace fades.  The storm is upon us. What needs to be done, and how do we keep our organizations on course?  To navigate through these rough waters we need to equip our employees with essential skills and competencies, change the fabric of our organizations, and nurture the development of high-performing teams.  Next month our newsletter will address the first of these three areas – essential employee skills and competencies.  Consulting skills and competencies are no longer the exclusive domain of consultants.   Everyone in an organization from knowledge workers to leaders needs these skills to make teams work - to survive the Perfect Storm . . . At Advance Consulting we help organizations steer their way to calmer waters.  If you would like to learn more about our products and services, and discuss your own custom solution, please contact us at 831-372-9444 or email us at advanceinfo@advanceconsulting.com
			FIND OUT MORE Advance Consulting is a professional development company that provides state-of-the-art consulting services, workshops, seminars, and speaking engagements throughout the U.S. and internationally. Find out more at www.advanceconsulting.com, send us an email at advanceinfo@advanceconsulting.com, or call us at (831) 372-9444 for more information.