What we do and how it works: One Step Beyond
At Intelligent Management, we are NOT conventional consultants, facilitators, mentors or advisors.
We are organizational scientists. We assist decision-makers with the authority and responsibility to carry out meaningful change.
Our world has changed and conventional recipes are no longer sufficient to anticipate and take advantage of fast-changing, complex scenarios. With the right knowledge, insight and foresight, decision makers can always be a step ahead of the competition. Our team’s strength comes from a unique understanding of the interplay necessary between hard science, emotions and cognition so that a human-centered system can innovate, operate and compete today.
Our experience is based on over 25 years of work in the field. Our years of study, research and development enable companies to reap the benefits of a sound solution in their day-to-day. Our goal is to ensure you have a method and elements of knowledge to systematically develop breakthrough solutions that propel performance along with the ability to implement them company-wide. We equip you with the knowledge and skills to grow and control the company with all the advantages of a systemic approach – increased Quality, Involvement and faster Flow of information and cash generation, communication, decision-making, R&D, production, delivery of services and products.
What does a collaboration with Intelligent Management look like?
Gaining a systemic perspective
This is a knowledge-based approach. The jump in performance that companies gain when they adopt a systemic approach to leadership, management and operations requires a shift in perspective. It makes sense to first adjust the “lenses” you use and to know what to expect with some level of detail.
We have designed an enjoyable, informative introductory program that we deliver in one online session of four hours. There is plenty of room for questions regarding applicability to any specific environment.
If you like what you hear, you can move on to a program that lays the conceptual and operational foundations for a successful, sustainable transformation from the present state to one of whole system optimization.
Foundations for change
With some clarity on a systemic perspective, we can now work with the leadership team through 8 sessions of 3-4 hours each to provide them with foundational knowledge for a systemic approach and essential systemic skills to lead and manage operations. The team will be introduced to:
-
Elements of system management (variation and feedback cycle)
-
Elements of network synchronization through a constraint
-
New accounting for speed of flow
-
Leadership, innovation and the management skills to govern the network
Setting the course
Now that the leadership team is familiar with the most important elements of a systemic approach, they are ready to discover the unique leverage point of their company, generate breakthrough solutions, and set the course for the transformation from the present reality of blockage to the desired future. Through 8-10 half-day sessions, the team gains unprecedented insight into what is limiting their ability to pursue their goals, foresight of the path ahead through a strategically mapped path to the future and further elements of knowledge they need to move forward from the present situation towards a clearly identified goal. They will be able to:
-
Carry out an in-depth, comprehensive and interactive self-assessment of the assumptions and mental models that currently keep the company stuck;
-
Identify the unique leverage point – the breakthrough solutions to move the company onto a path of significant and sustainable growth;
-
Create a systemic strategy for transformation;
-
Understand how to move forward.
Ready to take off?
Transformation can only happen through a clear and detailed plan for implementation that can be monitored as each step is taken. With the Decalogue, this takes the form of a set of projects with accurately identified tasks and visibility on who does what and when. We transfer to the leadership team the Thinking Processes to identify and overcome obstacles along the path, identify necessary tasks with clear instructions, and solve conflicts that inevitably arise. The organization can learn to manage projects most effectively through the Critical Chain method for Project Management.
Working through the technical, emotional and cognitive challenges of transformational change can be made easier with some guidance and accompaniment from Intelligent Management. We can support the creation and nourishment of a systemic mindset through a continuous and very practical side-by-side accompaniment throughout the implementation phase. This accompaniment can last between 6-36 months, depending on the size of company and scope.
All the work with Intelligent Management is carried out with the support of the Thinking Processes from the Theory of Constraints. These are linguistic tools in a visual format that are easily shared among team members for ongoing collaboration. Clients have ongoing access to our Ess3ntial digital platform to synchronize competencies and our Roperunner simulator for managing process and production flow.
Summing up what we do
Clearly, we are not your usual consultant: we neither deliver fat folders containing long reports and a laundry list of recommendations, nor do we see our value connected with an amount of “billable hours”.
How do we add value to an organization? How can we ensure that performance is significantly enhanced as a result of our contribution? In other words, what can an organization expect from us in an ongoing collaboration?
Organizations are networks of conversations oriented towards a common goal. Nothing is achieved outside these conversations. Hence, the best possible contribution to the success of an organization must be rooted in the way these conversations produce results. What we do, side by side, with the relevant people is:
-
guide the leadership team in their reasoning towards strategic solutions, enhancing their systemic foresight and insight
-
assist in the implementation of the solutions through operational guidance
-
continuously educate and train on the method and its applications and how to improve and evolve the relationship with customers, suppliers and the whole value network
All of this work is continuously supported through a rigorous use of the Thinking Processes from the Theory of Constraints as well as our Ess3ntial platform and Roperunner simulator.
Is our physical presence required?
While we have learned to deliver our work at a distance, our preference is to include visits that serve the purpose of keeping abreast with inevitable developments and the evolving HR scenario.
Let’s create value together
For over two decades, value and values have been the inspiration that has driven our work. Value is what an organization seeks to achieve and what it has been created for. Our values are the same as the companies we work with: integrity, transparency, desire to learn, drive towards win-win solutions, accountability, sustainability and larger-than-life Quality. We sit on the shoulders of two giant management thinkers, Dr Deming and Dr. Goldratt, and we like to think we have taken the baton from them to continue in the quest for a more meaningful, responsible and intelligent way of managing organizations.
You can read about the Founders of Intelligent Management here.
Schedule an introductory call with us
Short, long and in-between – dive in to our publications:
Short, long and in-between – dive in to our publications
