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Consulting Plan 13

Consulting Plan

Bernetta Rembert, Mario Garay, Melody Outlaw, Paul Breda, Tim Williams

MGT/598

March 27, 2017

University of Phoenix

Anthony Bretti

Consulting Plan

Introduction

The paper provides insight on how Uber unitizes its services from the company overall performance and the many individuals that use the company transportation benefits. The Uber-Company existed for some time and knowing Uber benefits helped many people and also how it became one of the successful companies today. The paper discusses a SWOT analyze which expresses into detail about Uber’s strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats. The analyze displays to readers how to understand more concerning Uber and the services provided by the company.

The balance scorecard illustrated in the paper explains the measures of the company’s performance. The Uber’s company image portrays through the paper into detail the casual chain scoreboard along with the performance of the project. Consequently, the reactions and satisfactions measures are vital and useful data because the information reveals Uber’s measures concerning training, knowledge, and skills. The intangible and tangible data displays the ROL measures that improve the company services. Last, the different scoreboards used by the company discuss every data aspect which consists of tracking the essential information.

A successful consulting project utilizes an efficient performance measurement system. Consultants must select a system – a performance scorecard – to track performance. These various systems vary in complexity, ease of use, “fit” to the task at hand and comprehensiveness. When used correctly, the scorecard will guide the organization’s investment in and management of consulting projects. In 2009, the Uber-Company launched as a ride-share transportation network that leverages technology to dispatch nearby independent contractors as to transport people. Since the launch, Uber has disenfranchised drivers through policies that favor the rider experience, at the expense of driver safety and earnings. The chosen consulting project evaluates the needs of the driver’s training and development program to attract and retain good drivers by improving their experience.

SWOT Analysis

The consulting project is analyzed for its value to the client, and to the consulting organization, in regards to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) presented. The SWOT analysis displays in the Appendix. Strengths identified are that the process under evaluation – driver training and development – is critical to Uber’s success, and the results of the engagement will be measurable regarding the impact to customer satisfaction. Management uses a consultant as a third party to improve the chances of a driver’s acceptance of the changes.

A related opportunity presented by the project provides assistance to improve the customer experience with happier drivers. For the consulting organization, this project represents an opportunity to further grow into the expanding “share” industry that continues to expand through technology into new areas, such as overnight accommodations and fund sourcing. The rapidly changing technology represents a similar threat to recommendations that might be presented to Uber, as does turnover and dissent in upper management ranks. New management could terminate the project, redefine its scope, or ignore recommendations of the firm hired by previous leadership.

The current levels of driver dissatisfaction with Uber management make a driver’s cooperation in concerning the project difficult. The focus on the driver experience may not adequately address needs and expectations of customers. These are potential weaknesses in the approach chosen for this consulting project.

Balanced Scorecard

This SWOT analysis is used to propose a Balanced Scorecard for the project as a tool for measuring project performance.

Causal Chain Scorecard

The Causal Chain Scorecard is an optional system for measuring project performance. This scorecard ultimately determines a return for the project: the extent to which monetary benefits resulting from the project exceed the actual cost of the project. The measurement system must be fed data representing multiple perspectives of the project.

The first category of measurements to be considered is the inputs that define the scope of the project: the tasks, people, and time. For the Uber project, this includes a number of consultants and their defined roles; functional areas of the project; time engaged in each function and activity of the project.

The second category of measurements is a cost of all inputs. Costs to be considered are the consultants’ compensation based on time on task, and all related expenses and tools needed to perform the activities. The costs are usually tracked cost by a consultant and functional area within the project. These functional areas could include reviewing training content, evaluation of the learning platform, surveying drivers, implementation of changes.

Discuss reaction measures (reaction and satisfaction data).

According to Kaplan and Norton, “The core of any business strategy is the customer-value proposition, which describes the unique mix of product, price, service, relationship, and image that a company of offers” (Kaplan & Norton. 2015. Para 1. P. 93). The reaction and satisfaction measures consist of skills, knowledge, and the perspectives concerning the Uber’s establishment along with stakeholders. Consequently, “training reactions are the most common criteria used for training evaluation, and reaction measures often included opportunities for trainees to provide a qualitative response” (Harman, Ellington, & Surface. 2015. P.1)

In addition, the collection of data from various programs within the Uber administration compared to the new programs illustrates the development. The data collected displays reactions and satisfaction. Furthermore, customer feedback data reveals the real satisfaction from the customers delivers the essential measurement for an organization. Reaction and satisfaction data displays through the completion of training and the development emphasize from the drivers.

Examine learning measures (changes in knowledge, skills, and perceptions).

To examine the learning measures of the individuals employed with a company consists of the changes in their knowledge, skills, and perceptions. Therefore, the frequency and usage of an individual’s knowledge, skills, and perceptions are some important measures to take into consideration when working for certain companies that are being consulted. The business uses some valuable and objective measures in regards to the employee’s pre- and post-knowledge during the training sessions. These measures give the companies that are being consulted a better understanding of the trainee’s knowledge while attending the training. During the training sessions, the observation of employees consists of their measurable and meaningful skills that they bring to the business. Also during the training sessions, the trainee’s perceptions and attitudes are monitored because companies that are being consulted hires numerous active and eager to work employees. It is important to have productive and efficient training programs in place at all potential clients and customers that are looking for consulting assistance. The training cycles at these companies are not complete without some evaluation of the training effectiveness, and this process leads to some decision-making along with plans for the future training sessions. It is imperative to have useful and informative assessment programs included in the overall training programs so that the training sessions will be efficient and successful. (Phillips, J. J., Trotter, W. D., & Phillips, P., p.160)

Examine impact measures (intangible and tangible data).

Based on information obtained from the resource-established aspect, interconnection was mainly backing the origination of comprehension as well as comprehension namely disbursed amongst its associates. Additionally, the exchange established aspect highlights the consumers along with markets necessities and continued to be provided by distributed and adjustable companies/organizations. In the resource-based view, and market-based view, obscured determinants like client affiliations, modifications, and information are important representations in the network’s progress. The very successful challenge of hidden study is efficiently provided proof concerning a firm's financial success, covered determinants, and obscured impenetrable accomplishment.

Intangibles revealed important formations alternately actual financial worth accumulation exercises (amounting to familiar remarks “intangible value drivers”) that indicate causation and end productions association (Abeysekera, 2006). The (BSC) “balanced scorecard,” that are very frequent instances concerning a mounting administration assessment structure, concludes because capable of a chain reaction connection among obscured reserves and condensed accomplishment inside its four way of looking (growth, learning, finances and clients). In regards to the idea of critical administration, some differentiations created amidst internally familiarized resource established views also externally familiarized established the look.

Discuss ROI measures (compares monetary benefits to costs).

In our consulting model for training implementation and improvement, we will measure our ROI on our training initiative, the online platform utilized, as well as the online training curriculum which developed for the training. In order to ensure we have implemented an effective consultant plan, we will have to refer to the return on investment (ROI) measures, as these will allow us to track the finances that are utilized in order to implement the plan.

As changes are made within an organization (growth, management change, training implementation), forecasting of the ROI will also be vital, this may not be the best method to use in large organizations as it has been found to be a risk taking process, but has been found to be useful (Phillips, Trotter, & Phillips, 2015, p. 171). One of the biggest risks in forecasting is having the correct data as well as data source. As the forecast is created, we will be looking at trends that may have taken place, if this trend data was not entered accurately, it may cause for the forecast to have incorrect numbers which will cause the forecast plan to be inaccurate and can be costly for the organization.

Differentiate the causal chain balanced scorecard from the other types of scorecards.

When comparing the causal chain balanced scorecard to other types, we can see that it has several different types of data that are tracked and is utilized to identify results for the consulting plan implemented. The causal chain balanced scorecard reflects the measures taken when creating and executing a consulting program. Included in this scorecard are the following areas, cost, reaction, learning, application, impact and ROI measures (Phillips, Trotter, & Phillips, 2015, pp. 157,158). Other scorecards may include different KPI’s (key performance indicators), which can be used to track daily/weekly sales statistics for an individual team, or for an entire organization. With this type of scorecard, you can identify the areas of opportunity as well as the high points.

Conclusion

After reading this paper, I hope to learn more about Uber and the many functions the company operates with help many to understand the value and hard work the company set forth. With the many ride-sharing competitors, Uber managed to stay in business with the many tools that were mentioned in this paper most important the performance of the company which steps high standards for the company riders.

Appendix

S W O T Analysis

Strengths

Weaknesses

Addresses a critical function of the operation

Neglects the customer perspective

3rd party improves likelihood of driver acceptance

Driver cooperation unlikely

Results are measurable and impactful

 

 

 

Opportunities

Threats

Satisfied drivers will impact customer satisfaction

Constantly changing technology could render recommendations obsolete

Demonstrate capabilities in the growing "sharing" industry

Turnover in senior management

 

Appendix

Balance Score Card

Reference

Abeysekera, I. (2006), “The project of ICD: researching the research,” Journal of

Intellectual Capital, Vol. 7 No.1, pp. 61-77.

Harman, R. P., Ellington, J. K., Surface, E. A., & Thompson, L. F. (2015). Exploring qualitative

training reactions: Individual and contextual influences on trainee commenting. Journal of Applied Psychology, 100(3), 894-916. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0038380

Phillips, J. J., Trotter, W. D., & Phillips, P. P. (2015) p160. Maximizing the value of consulting:

a guide for internal and external consultants

Ruzic, M. D., Skenderovic, J., & Lesic, K. T. (2016). APPLICATION OF THE MAMDANI

FUZZY INFERENCE SYSTEM TO MEASURING HRM PERFORMANCE IN HOTEL COMPANIES - A PILOT STUDY. Teorija in Praksa, 53(4), 976-999,1025. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1841722971?accountid=458