Strategic Consulting Firms (SCFs) are offering a broad array of consulting to strengthen and optimize the governance, staff operations, executive management, program development, functional integration, as well as evaluation practices of any organization. Some prominent services being offered by such strategy consultants are as follows; strategic planning, strategic thinking, board as well as staff development, strategic action, management and program development, collaborative strategies and organizational development. Now, let us discuss each service one by one in more detail. The first and most commonly known service offered by strategic consultants is strategic thinking. Strategic thinking includes following functions; assisting conceptualizes actions and programs, devising long-term mission and vision, etc. Similarly, strategic planning includes the following function.
To facilitate the organization in devising effective and appropriate strategies to achieve the organization’s long-term objectives including periods and priority development, development of pragmatic strategies, mobilization and identification of necessary institutional, human, technical as well as financial resources.Strategic action includes the following functions; program focus conceptualization, guideline formulation, strategies pertaining to solicitation as well as time frames. It also includes review mechanism establishments, document preparation for the review of board, designing of efficient as well as effective program administration, management, and oversight as well as assessment functions. Another prominent service being offered by the strategic consultants is staff and board development. It includes following functions; optimizing the governance, staff and management functions, interpersonal relationships, clarification of principal obligations, governing board functions, responsibilities, provision of executive guidance, clarification of their responsibilities as well as roles. It also includes optimizing of line staff productivity, appropriate rewards and accountability frameworks and effective collaboration & communication modes. Strategic consultants can make a difference in the successful execution of different marketing strategies, this in turn result in the increase of sales.
Organizational development is another effective service being offered by the strategic consultants, it includes following functions; strengthening and clarifying the functional unit responsibilities. Another major service offered by the strategic consulting firms is collaborative strategy. It includes following functions; to design and implement the strategy for better interaction between individuals as well as organization. Similarly, another useful service offered by the strategic consultants is program management and development. It includes following functions; Implementing, developing and managing different initiatives. Now the question is how to select the best strategic consultant. For this purpose, first contact the state business-regulating agency and choose only that consultant which is recognized and verified by the government agency. This was a brief account of strategic consultants.