Areas of MAS part 1

Six dimensions/Types of MAS engagements (NSPTIG)

1. Nature of the problem
2. Service delivery area – function or activities in which the problem situation exists.
3. Phases of the analytic process - These phases represent the dynamic aspects of an
engagement and are employed in every engagement.
4. Techniques and methodologies applied
5. Industry or nature of organization
6. Geographical areas

Nature of the problem

Classifications of problems according to their situation (CPO)
1. Corrective
 Situation in which conditions have worsened
 It usually arises suddenly and demands urgent action
 Defining the problem is less difficult than the preferable course of action
2. Progressive
 Existing situation that can be improved
3. Opportunistic
 Involves situation that future opportunity exists.
 Lead to more risky and more potentially rewarding course of action
Service delivery areas
Group of areas where the problem situation exists
 General management
 Manufacturing
 Personnel
 Finance and accounting
 Marketing
 Procurement
 Research and development
 Packaging
 Administration
 International operations
Narrower service delivery areas under finance and accounting
 General accounting
  Cost accounting
 Short-term planning, budgeting and control
 Credit and collections
 Long-range financial planning
 Capital investment
 Marginal income analysis
 Financial planning
 Valuation and appraisal
 Taxes
 Financial information planning
Phases of analytic process (IDFDI)
A. Identifying the objectives
B. Defining the problem
C. Finding out the facts
D. Developing the solution
E. Implementing the solution

Industry or nature of organization

 Privately owned business firm
 Government agency
 Not-for-profit nongovernmental organization
 Professional organization

Geographical areas
a) Single locations
 Home office of the client
b) Multiple location
 Several production plant and warehouse
 Some location in foreign countries

Areas of MAS practice

 Management function of analysis, planning, organizing and controlling
 Introduction of new ideas, concepts and methods to management
 Improvement of policies, procedures, systems, methods and organizational relationships
 Application and use of managerial accounting, control systems, data processing, and
mathematical techniques and methods
  Conduct of special studies, preparation of recommendation
Types of consultancy work
 Business planning and development of project feasibility studies
 Information systems consulting
 Internal audit services
 Internal auditing
- Independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add
value and improve an organization’s operations.
- It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic,
disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk
management, control and governance process.
 Management operations audit
 Operational audits – also known as management audits and performance audits
 Evaluate the effectiveness and/or efficiency of operations
 Determining the degree of its operational efficiency, effectiveness and economy
 Business process improvement or reengineering
 Process engineering – it is more radical approach than TQM
 Reengineering – the complete redesign of a process to find new ways to
accomplish an objective
 Business process – is diagrammed in detail, questioned and then completely
redesigned.
 Cultural factors: organizational culture – refers to the mindset of employees
including their shared beliefs, values and goals.
 Others;
 Marketing research
 Marketing strategy development
 Developing promotional campaign
 Planning sales force activity
 New product development
 Developing proposal for financial support
 Staff recruitment
 Exporting and international market
Business planning and development (project feasibility studies)
 One of the broadest type of projects
 It is used when desired to have growth and development
 Great opportunity for the consultants to contribute to the development of the business
 The first task need to establish is to exactly know “what the clients wants”
Common outcomes of business planning and development
  Growth of the business or market share increase
 Expansion of the business into new market sectors
 Development of new products
 Increasing profits through cost-reduction programs
 Internal structural reorganizations.
Information system consulting
 Developing an understanding of the information needs of the business
 Developing the flow of information in the organization
Marketing research – the process by which managers discover the nature of the competitive
environment.
Objectives of marketing research:
1. Obtain information to support decision making
2. Reduce risk
3. Dedicate valuable resources in a more reliable way

Two types of marketing research

 Primary research – information collected for the specific projects.
Subdivision of primary research
 Quantitative research – provides answer to question when those answers need to
be expressed in statistical or numerical form. – answer the how much, how often
and how many questions
 Qualitative research – provides answer to questions that do not demand a
quantified answer. - Answer managers who and why questions.
 Secondary research – based on information that has been collated earlier for reasons
other than the project at hand. – it takes the form of existing reports, articles and
commentaries that just prove to be relevant to the project.
Marketing strategy – approach the business will take in order to get the customers attention and
critically get them to spend their money on the business products or services.
Developing promotional campaigns – any program of activities dedicated to informing customers
about a product, stimulating their interest and encouraging purchase
Task of in developing campaigns
- Cost –effectiveness
- Mechanics of running the campaign
 - Monitoring
Planning sales force activity
- Detailed and thoughtful planning of sales force activity is a process which
offers real returns.
- Expenditures on this is one of the most important investment the firm will
make.
Area in which the consultant can offer valuable support
- Overall organization of the team
- Sales team training
- Sales team motivation
- Planning sales campaign
New product development – represents a complex project that draws in most, if not all, of the
firm’s function
Support that consultant offer in new product development
- Understanding the customer’s needs
- Technical advice
- Identifying and contacting suppliers
- Developing promotional campaigns
- Development of marketing and PR campaigns to support the launch
- Financial planning and evaluating of the return
Four critical areas consultants often called under developing proposals for financial support
 Evaluate business’s investment needs
 Identification of funding providers and how they might be contacted
 Understanding criteria by funding providers and how these might be addressed
 Communications with funding providers
Important contributions of consultant in staff recruitment
- Assessing the firm’s human resource requirement and identifying skill and
knowledge gaps;
- Creating advertisements;
- Developing assessment criteria, interview procedures;
- Advice on reimbursement packages new recruits will expect.
Consultant can supply in exporting and international marketing:
o Overall insight into development;
o Analysis of the growth and evolution of specific markets;
o Evaluation of consumer needs and requirements;
o Information on regulatory and legal issues;
o Details of existing supply structure;
o Investigation into distribution channels and possible partners;
o Information on advertising and promotional opportunities.