It is time for a change, a renovation in process consultancy. For the last 40 or 50 years, the same steps are being followed; the same thought process is being applied with little or no change.
In between, industry specific new standards/models got evolved and practiced. Other than that no major change happened in the process consultancy arena. From where to start the change..?
If the right process is followed in the right way by the project team itself, then there is no need of a second person to ensure process compliance. But occurrence of mistakes is a common phenomenon especially when there is human intervention (and even with machines too). Hence it is always recommended to have an external person for verifying the process compliance.
The following questions may seem questioning the validity of existing well known standards or models. With due respect to all of those standards, I am trying to see the process frame work through different angles- “the second generation of Process Consultancy”.
• If all the projects are being executed in the same way following the same written process and procedures, how can they be innovative?
• If lessons earned are documented, passed to the followers and practiced, won’t they be copycats?
• Is the written process really fitting your projects or aren’t you pretending it to be okay, just to avoid the tailoring procedures?
• Is there really an established process for at least half part of your project or aren’t you just executing it as it come up on your way?
The questions won’t end here..it continues till there is a second generation. And then, only those consultants who have subject expertise as well as analytical nature may be the most suitable for next century organizations.