Business Management Consultant Tips

HerschDeMaio Associates has extensive background in serving academic institutions. These institutions range from primary education, through community colleges, undergraduate and graduate education. There are a host of services available to these institutions.

• Strategic planning
• Policy assessment
• Mission clarification
• Policy analysis

• Admission standards
• Conflict resolution
• Team building
• Leadership training

Community College Consultation Needs

Modern community colleges have become a major gateway for many students to begin their quest for higher education. Unfortunately an old stereotype of the community college system as a place for students who could not succeed in four-year colleges and universities still lingers. The new reality of contemporary community colleges is very different. They are often the best opportunity for some students to acquire the skills they need to succeed in the modern work force. Community Colleges must be agile in adapting to the educational needs of their students as well as the expectations of potential employers. Community colleges may also provide a direct pathway to traditional four year colleges for students who are successful at the community college level. There are times when an outside perspective, sensitive to this unique academic setting, can facilitate productive problem solving.

College and University Consultation

Similar challenges are faced by colleges and universities. These challenges include funding constraints, changing work force needs and the internal political environment of college and university settings. HerschDeMaio Associates has extensive experience in working with institutions of higher learning. While faculty members are generally well educated in their individual disciplines, they frequently do not have training as administrators or team managers.

“Historically, academic freedom has been a foundational element in most institutions of higher learning.”

Conflicts may occur within departments as well as between departments. While it may intuitively appear that highly educated professionals would have perspective regarding intra and inter departmental conflicts, the reality is that this often not the case. Independent consultants, knowledgeable about academic and organizational processes can help departments identify unifying principles that will enhance departments functioning. Similarly, skilled consultants can assist faculty and administration in developing interdisciplinary coordination.

“Frequently, faculty handbooks are vague with respect to accountability to institutional standards.”

Another issue that may create institutional conflicts involves the balance between institutional standards and academic freedom. Historically, academic freedom has been a foundational element in most institutions of higher learning. Unfortunately, once tenure has been earned, accountability may diminish. This circumstance can create conflicts within an academic department or with administration.

Tenured faculty may fail to fulfill departmental responsibilities or take advantage of the lack of organizational accountability. Frequently, faculty handbooks are vague with respect to accountability to institutional standards. This is particularly true once a faculty member has become tenured. Intra and Inter-departmental conflicts can become entrenched with an enormous cost to teaching and academic excellence.

Mediation, conflict resolution, team building, executive coaching and strategic planning may all be essential consultation services required by academic departments or administrative teams.

“Only when a “win-win” philosophy is embraced can an academic institution succeed.”

A similar set of problems may exist at the administrative executive team levels. Competing priorities to increase enrollment, maintain academic quality and promote academic freedom can be a significant challenge. These issues are compounded by fiscal realities, where funding lags behind the needs of the institution. Departments may find themselves in conflict with other members of their departments as they compete for limited resources. Departments may also fail to appreciate the priorities of the institution as a whole.

Faculty members and departments who understand the broader needs of the larger institution can work within the limited resources available. Only when a “win-win” philosophy is embraced can an academic institution succeed.

The Consultant’s Role

The role of the consultant is to assess the functional performance of individual faculty members, teams, departments and the institution as a whole. This must be done in a nuanced manner where communication and cooperation are enhanced to address the problems undermining institutional excellence. HerschDeMaio works to develop interventions that are sensitive to the unique environment of academia. These interventions are developed in concert with faculty, staff and administration so that all stakeholders become invested, allowing them to contribute to the change process.