REPLY Getting a Good Problem Statement (SD6578)

[SDMAIL Jim Thompson]

Posted by  "Jim Thompson" <james.thompson at strath.ac.uk>

If clients knew how to solve the problem at hand, they would hardly be
inclined to engage a consultant in the first place.  During a system
dynamics consulting engagement, clients learn to solve problems with system
dynamics.  

Engagement circumstances-such as how involved an individual client becomes
in the formulation, testing and analysis of a model constructed by the
consultant-contribute to how and what the client learns.

If we consultants treat each client the same during the engagement-for
example, by facilitating group sessions "from the front of the classroom"-we
risk not being able to see each participant as a learner with needs
different from the other learners.  

Perhaps it is not feasible to assess the learning needs and styles of every
participant in a group problem-solving session.  But it may help to have
some background information-for example, knowing how relevant the engagement
is to the participant's principal occupation.  With that bit of information,
the consultant can begin to develop an approach that builds on what the each
participant knows.

Jim Thompson
Posted by  "Jim Thompson" <james.thompson at strath.ac.uk>
posting date  Wed, 5 Sep 2007 10:31:22 -0400