Company Profile » Consulting Methods And Techniques

Face-to-face contact is what distinguishes services provided by CDS consultants.

When implementing strategic planning and management processes or conducting activities intended to develop a friendly attitude toward innovative local projects, we combine expert activities with workshops involving large teams of people. We achieve this by using widely applied strategic analysis techniques. Documents developed as a result of that process are consulted with local communities during the meetings organised and conducted by CDS. Other ways to promote such consultations include co-operation with the media and creation of events.

Basic methods employed by CDS consultants include:

Consultancy research

typically used at the initial phase to assess resources and identify action plans in place at an institution. The basic tool used is in-depth interview with representatives of local stakeholders. Research also includes an expert examination of strategic documents. Based on a thorough analysis of documents at the level of an institution, town, municipality, county or province, a Social and Economic Profile is created with an aim toward presenting a variety of economic and social indices of the examined entity compared with those of other institutions or neighbouring or similar towns, municipalities or counties at the national or regional level. Other types of research conducted by CDS are business attitude surveys (BAS) and in-depth strategic analyses, including sectoral economic analyses, human capital assessments and business environment analyses.

Workshops for key stakeholders

A cycle of workshops is prepared based on previously conducted consultancy research and analyses. Workshops are conducted using interactive methods and training tools (techniques) that are designed to assist participants in identifying, analysing and proposing solutions individually or in groups. This method of work is based on an assumption that participants are treated as experienced experts while the consultants have the task of facilitating the learning and skill acquisition process by proposing tools and presenting examples of solutions. The most important task is to create educational situations that will assure the participants that it is they – rather than external consultants – who have conducted all the analyses and developed the solutions. Different techniques are used during each workshop, including integration games, mini-lectures using presentation transparencies and slides, creative techniques, workshop techniques and moderated discussions.

Delphic method

Considering that strategy building is a lengthy and multi-faceted process, CDS consultants use a modified version of the Delphic method. Materials created during each workshop are written down, edited and returned to the participants, who are requested to follow up on unclear matters, provide individual feedback and reassess the materials.

In social surveys we typically use qualitative techniques such as Focus Group Interview and Individual In-Depth Interview.

We have very extensive experience in Focus Group Interview (FGI) techniques. As well as using standard FGI tools, our consultants also employ training tools and techniques (creative techniques, nominal group techniques, tests and scales).

We have recently been conducting business attitude surveys for towns and counties (e.g. Mikołajki, Olecko, Olsztynek, thirteen municipalities of the Cieszyn Land, Ząbkowice county, Czechowice-Dziedzice, Tczew). These surveys are conducted using individual interviews and questionnaires.