Why SMArt Consulting? We offer SMArt Solutions...

‘DIY’, Rent-a-Guide’,or the ‘Full Meal Deal?
Three consulting options to meet your requirements, strategy and budget.

As with hiking guides, our consulting approach is tailored to your requirements, experience level and current knowledge. Our advice: Don’t set out on an unprepared IT Management journey. Though it might not cost you your life, corporate bears are unpredictable.

You’re just about to take off for an adventurous journey. A hike! You feel confident, but also a bit nervous. One thing is for sure: it’s going to be exciting! It’s just like going on a vacation to a foreign country. You love the adventure, but you like to be prepared for unexpected surprises. Know the feeling?

Now lean back in your chair and compare your IT Management with going on that hiking trip. Why? It’s a great comparison! Imagine: you could encounter rugged terrain, extreme weather conditions, dangerous wild life and many more “surprises” on the way.

The Self Guided Hike (DIY)
You’ve been on hiking trips before. You bought a trail guidebook and your own hiking equipment (boots, poles, compass, backpack, etc.). You selected an interesting trail, with a specific destination. To be sure that everything works out as planned, you visit the info booth and they tell you about the condition of the route, the possibility of wildlife encounters and the expected weather conditions. You head out.

Half way through the hike you arranged a meeting with the park ranger. He tells you there is some bear activity ahead, and a mud-slide damaged part of the chosen path. Around 5 pm he expects a thunder storm. You take the appropriate measures: making noise with (bear) bells, keeping ropes handy, and heading back around 3 pm. No doubt you have a wonderful time.

The Guided Hike (Rent-a-Guide)
Although you have some experience with hiking you decide to go with a guide this time. Why? This hike simply requires more experience and knowledge than you’ve currently got. You need ‘hands on’ guidance along the way. To understand all the challenges, she will explain what to look out for, and give advice on the spot.

You didn’t recognize the animal tracks across the path… You didn’t know how slippery that rocky edge would be… And you didn’t have a clue how to cross that ravine. Your guide’s presence and expertise proves to be a must. She even provides some recommendations on your hiking equipment. You learn a lot. You improve your skills. You have more confidence.

Guidance From Start To Finish (Full Meal Deal)
Hiking is new for you. Your parents never did it, your friends never did it, so you never did it - but you are going to. You are smart enough to take the occasion serious.

You find yourself a Hiking Consultant/Guide. He helps you to buy all the equipment you need. Though you are on a budget, he helps you making the right decisions.He selects and plans the first trip. You get instructions on how to navigate, use the tent, the backpack, prepare food, manage exposure to dangerous wildlife, etc. It’s a great experience without nasty surprises! More importantly, it makes you feelcomfortable to organize the next hike yourself.

When 'change' happens in the life of an IT Manager

08:00 AM - At your desk to do the email/voicemail check, making sure there aren't any fires burning. You put together the "to do" list for the day. Clients, partners, suppliers, employees...

09:30 AM - Meeting with some VP's. HUGE plan - BIG change! New software, new system, new people. They say: 'You got the knowledge, so you got the power. Good luck!'

10:00 AM - 'Great, thanks'... you need a coffee break.

10:15 AM - Then you realize... Knowledge is NOT Power. If knowledge was power, academics would rule the world. It's the activation of knowledge where power lies.

NOON - Successful executives (like you) know this by intuition: 'Turn Knowledge into ACTION to Achieve Results'. The time is now.

01:45 PM - You defined your strategy and focus: 'Turn the key of willingness'. 'Ensuring that your people WANT to make it happen'. That requires strong vision and leadership. You got that.

02:20 PM - But... you also recognize that this is not "just" a technical project. You need to deliver serious changes in 'human behavior'... That business card... You call Service Management Art.

02:45 PM - You talked all the basics through: IT objectives, IT strategy, IT processes. But you know that this 'People Thing' is key. Accomplishing "change" is truly... an art.

04:25 PM - You present your plan, your partner, and the expected positive Return On Investment (ROI). They smile and say: 'Seems like you're the right man'. Seems? No doubt guys...

05:00 PM - You're in the elevator going down - thinking:
Real SMArt people get wiser all the time!

Check out our SMArt Consulting Packages,
and book a FREE 1 hour consultation today.