Plague Rats (consultants) (previous quotes in a PDF file)

'They have a strong track record in achieving value-for-money outcomes that build real organisational and individual leadership capability delivered in an action-oriented way that promotes sustainable behavioural change.' A consultant's application for federal funding. Thanks to Susan.

Principles of Lean.
The five step thought process for guiding the implementation of lean techniques are easy to remember, but not always easy to  achieve.

1. Specify value from the standpoint of the end customer by product family.
2. Identify all the steps in the value stream for each product family, eliminating whenever possible those steps that do not create value.
3. Make the value-creating steps occur in tight sequence so the product will flow smoothly towards the customer.
4. As flow is introduced let customers pull value from the next upstream activity.
5. As value is specified, value streams are identified, wasted steps are removed, and flow and pull are introduced, begin the process again and continue it until a state of perfection is reached in which perfect value is created with no waste.
   Lean Enterprise Institute. ( Compared with traditional "think" tanks, we are a "do" tank. ) Thanks to Tony Healy.

'Many of the trends are associated with personalisation, communication and reward continuity and reinforcement and proactively utilising various tools within the market place that consumers and employees alike are engaging with.' Executive from an employee benefit plan. Thanks to anonymous.

'Prosci's world-class training programs are founded in over a decade of change management research. The tools and methodologies are based on best practices from more than 2100 organizations and represent the leading models for change management. Prosci's methodology is one of the most widely used approaches for managing the people side of change, and more courses are offered every month on Prosci's change management tools than all other approaches combined.' Change Mangement Learning Center.

Better For Business: improving business through sustainability
Profit – using sustainability to cut operational costs and drive business growth ...
Business strategy – using sustainability as a growth driver

• 21st century audit – to check your company's current pulse quickly – we offer a visual radar that shows your gaps
• Prioritising issues – what are the key sustainability intiatives required
• Strategy- articulating direction for internal and external delivery
• Developing a Sustainability Vision your Board and senior managers can sign off on. Thanks to James Luxton.

'While I am sad to be leaving Grey after fifteen years, I am looking forward to using my recent learnings and experience and bringing a number of business opportunities to life in early 2010.' Grey Australia’s Melbourne-based managing director Jane Emery who will complete her Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the end of the year.

'This is one funky brand idea and a retail food business for today!...Through a series of workshop sessions, the product offering was prioritised, key segmentation and demographic analysis undertaken and a essence and positioning for the brand was revealed. These strategic resources were then translated creatively into all key stakeholder brand touch points. Murray Art Design: Strategic branding and design.

'Today we're pleased to announce a new, robust workshop with a focus on brand leadership.' The Blake Project

DELIVERING INNOVATION IN BRANDING, DIGITAL MEDIA & APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

'Our historical strength in creative innovation complimented with our unprecedented leadership in online technology services delivers Vivid Group an integrated competitive advantage'. Thanks to Ben.

'The City of Melbourne has launched a new corporate identity - a design reflecting a city recognised internationally for its diversity, innovation, sustainability and liveability. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says the new design will become an icon for Melbourne ...

Chief Executive Officer Dr Kathy Alexander says the benefits of introducing a new City of Melbourne corporate identity include:...

• greater brand impact and flexibility
• more cost and time-effective in-house design and brand management.'

All this for just under $240,400 with $148,000 of it going to an international branding firm.

''Risk Management Framework Enhancement Manager' Conference speaker's job title. Thanks to Mark.

'The internet has sometimes been described as a lean forward medium because it engages people.' Spotted recently on a a webpage dedicated to making your own webpage. Thanks to Charlie Myres who says 'Sorry, in the process of throwing up I forgot to note the source'.

With highly credentialed, real-world experienced, international recruitment teams applying robust, creative and thorough sourcing and assessment methodologies, the skilled and ambitious people that we deliver, sharpen organisations' competitive edge ... Our HR Consulting team's passion and expertise lie in HRO, RPO, career planning, training management and psychological services. A tailored RossJuliaRoss HRO solution enhances the return on an organisation's people investment and frees up key resources in your internal HR team ... RossJuliaRoss's end-to-end people, technology and process solutions address every stage of the employee lifecycle of a candidate.' Thanks to Courtenay Rule

Toronto, November 10, 2008 -- PROPHIX Software, a leading provider of financial business intelligence and performance management solutions specializing in forecasting, corporate budgeting, strategic planning, consolidation, financial analysis and scorecarding, is proud to be sponsoring a session in the Exploring Integration track at the 2008 Sage Summit. The session, entitled "Leverage Your Sage Data for More Strategic Planning", will take place on Tuesday, November 18th at 3:30pm. Press release.

'They[silos] foster inefficiency, inhibit synergy, fail to leverage skills and successes, lead to resource misallocation, diffuse competence in key marketing activities, and create brand confusion.' David Aaker, author of Spanning Silos

'From a Headshift perspective, Web 2.0 technologies are very much about leveraging the natural dynamics of an organisation and matching them with social software to facilitate a collaboration process that helps organisations meet their business objectives...' Livio Hughes, Headshift co-founder and director, speaking about his firm's recruitment of Anne Bartlett-Bragg as MD for Australasia. Headshift calls itself a 'social computing consultancy'. The Australian IT Section, Sept 08. Thanks to Michael Crowe

'Through strategic alliances with other associations, APPA increases the depth and breadth of its information and offerings, broadens its scope and value, leverages its resources, and creates increased synergy across the facilities and educational community.' APPA - leadership in educational facilities.

'On reflection, I think I ended up driving the desire for change too quickly and became less open to advice and compassion about the impacts on individuals'.
Port Phillip Council's chief executive, David Spokes after paying a change management consultant $600,000 and the need to pay $200,000 on legal fees because:
'Staff were rebelling. Formal complaints of bullying, intimidation and sexual harassment were lodged against Ms Shahbaz. Lawyers were brought in to interview about 20 staff witnesses. Some staff were counselled.'
'Costly, 'magical' spell cast on Port Phillip Council', Royce Millar, The Age, 19 May 2008

Explanation of 'reverse brief':
'The words ‘reverse brief' referred to in Reference Group correspondence appear to be being used to describe a possible redefinition of the master plan focus and a redesign of its fundamental brief.
This is not the genesis or the context of the expression ‘reverse brief', in this instance.
Due to the nature of Prof. Paul Carter's presentation to us we requested he provide us with a ‘reverse brief' to better articulate his professional services and allow us to negotiate a scope of work.  
Whilst his work will hopefully result in a profoundly improved foundation for the master planning, the expression ‘reverse brief' merely describes the process of communication for now. 
In respect of the concern's [sic] of xxx manifestation of Material Thinking's concepts are fundamental to their appointment and will be monitored closely through the delivery.' Sent to people with the message: ' I hope this explanation assists'. We doubt it.

'The nature of our business has enabled us to develop enduring, meaningful relationships with our clients supported by our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality of advice and ethics and integrity in everything we do... In terms of your relationship with your adviser, very little will change... centralising many of the functions we currently replicate, such as business administration platforms, and back office systems and procedures. Together, we are excited and enthusiastic about our ongoing cooperation and collaboration and the prospect of further jointly developed initiatives that will create benefits for our clients now, and in to the future... This is an exciting development in the growth of our company...'
From an updated Financial Services Guide from Shadforths. Thanks to Sam for what he describes as 'weasel word wizardry'.

Combining five decades of hands-on experience with the very latest methods for managing the modern workplace, we partner with your leaders, management and staff to deliver proven solutions to identify, resolve and minimise risks in the workplace.'
Converge International who provide 'Employee Assistance Programs'. Thanks to Phoebe

'Futures Alchemy: the fusion of foresight, insight and creativity. Our futures intelligence work is alchemical in nature. We take the raw ingredients for success; add the revelation of foresight, the depth of insight, and the spark of creativity that transforms the lead of the present into the gold of the future. Designer Futures provides a range of advanced strategic foresight services to help you explore your potential and create the future you prefer.

Designer Futures is a network of foresight analysts, futurists, intergenerational interpreters, researchers, policy developers, emergent strategists, impact assessors and new creatives.'
Thanks to Leah who comments: 'Wow. Clever of them.'

(previous quotes in a PDF file)

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