Engagement strategy
Define the strategy for the engagement by undertaking a needs analysis, outlining the stakeholder management plan, and summarizing the approach to the engagement.
Needs analysis
Summarize the client needs. It's important to conduct a needs analysis to ensure you fully understand the client's challenges and needs in relation to this engagement.
Click on the Edit button to manually complete the needs analysis. If the engagement is the result of a proposal created in advaise.app, use the Import button to import the client needs analysis from the proposal to save time and effort.
Complete the following details:
1. Change Drivers
Every organisation experiences change drivers, whether it be internal or external. Conducting a needs analysis will help you identify these drivers, such as a shift in industry trends, a new competitor, or a change in leadership. By understanding these drivers, you can manage your engagement to address the client's immediate needs and position yourself as a strategic partner who can help navigate the changing landscape.
2. Strategic Options
What options has the client explored? Understanding the options your client investigated to meet the need, will guide you in manage the engagement to deliver the desired outcomes.
3. Strategic Choice
Of the strategic options identified, what has the client decided to do? Identify and justify why the client chose this course of action. This will help gain an understanding and enable you to manage your engagement to help the client achieve the desired outcome.
4. Identify issues
Identifying the client's challenges is also crucial during the needs analysis. Whether it's a lack of resources, outdated technology, or an inability to adapt to changing market trends, understanding these challenges will enable you to offer solutions that are specifically designed to address them. By demonstrating your understanding of the client's pain points and offering tailored solutions, you position yourself as a knowledgeable and strategic partner.
5. Outline the project's investment thesis
Outlining how this project will support the required change will guide you in delivering the engagement to a successful outcome for the client.
Conducting a needs analysis is a crucial step in managing the engagement to a successful outcome for the client. It enables us to fully understand the client's situation, address their challenges and position us as a strategic partner. By taking the time to conduct a thorough needs analysis, we increase our chances of success and ultimately help our clients achieve their objectives.
Key stakeholders
Stakeholders are the decision makers of your clients. Effective stakeholder management helps to build trust and credibility, which is crucial in establishing long-term relationships and securing repeat business.
Click on the + Add button to add a new stakeholder, or click on a stakeholder in the list or matrix to update their details.
Add the following details to the stakeholder record:
Identify the stakeholder
Use the search box to find an existing contact. If the contact has not yet been created in advaise.app, type in their name then click on the +Create button. Don't forget to go and enter all their details in the contacts module after you've finished here.
Assign a relationship owner
This will be the person in your organisation who will own the relationship with the stakeholder and be their main point of contact in relation to this engagement.
Assess the stakeholder's level of influence
Assessing each stakeholder's level of influence will help you determine how much weight their opinion carries in the decision-making process. This will help you prioritise your efforts and ensure that you're addressing the needs and concerns of the most influential stakeholders.
Assess their level of interest
Assessing each stakeholder's level of interest in the engagement will help you prioritise your efforts and ensure that you're providing sufficient attention to each stakeholder.
Expectations
Clearly document the stakeholder expectations in relation to this engagement. For example, a Project Manager will expect regular communication on deliverable status and due dates whereas a steering committee member may only want periodic high level updates.
Stakeholder management
Describe how the engagement will address their expectations. For example, schedule a monthly update session with the Steering committee, or a daily standup with the Project Manager.
Our approach
It's important to clearly define the engagement approach you will use to provide your professional services. It outlines the specific steps, processes, and methodologies that you will follow to address the client's needs or challenges effectively. This approach is typically tailored to the unique requirements of the client and their particular project or situation.
Click on the Edit button to update the approach.
In addition to summarising your engagement approach, you may also want to attach a diagram of the engagement model. This can provide a visual representation of how your company will work with the client and what each stage of the engagement will look like.
The diagram can include:
- The stages of the engagement
- The activities that will take place in each stage
- The deliverables that will be provided to the client at each stage
By providing a visual representation of the engagement model, you can help the client understand the process and feel more comfortable with working with your company.
