Art of Consulting Podcast Andy Fry, Cat Lam

Introduction:
Andy and Kat introduce the podcast episode, highlighting their focus on valuable banter and dialogue between the hosts.
Exploring Specialization and Diversification:
Andy and Kat reflect on their backgrounds in ERP consulting, particularly within Oracle implementations, spanning several decades.
They discuss the importance of branching out from a niche specialization to explore transferable skills applicable to new niches and areas.
Kat emphasizes the significance of understanding both functional and technical aspects of consulting, underscoring the value of bridging the gap between business processes and technology.
Andy shares anecdotes illustrating the necessity of consultants to clarify client needs and outcomes, even when clients present partially baked solutions.
The hosts stress the importance of humility in consulting, advocating for asking questions to ensure clarity and alignment between consultants and clients.
 
By combining anecdotes, reflections, and practical insights, Andy and cat provide listeners with valuable guidance on navigating specialization and transferable skills in the consulting industry.
 
In this episode, Andy and the guest explore the concept of transferable skills in the consulting field. They discuss how seemingly unrelated experiences can inform and enrich one's ability to tackle diverse projects and industries. Through anecdotes and insights, they emphasize the importance of continuous learning, note-taking, and building meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues.
Key Points:
Identifying Transferable Skills: The conversation delves into the significance of recognizing transferable skills, regardless of one's specialization. Drawing from personal experiences, they highlight how skills acquired in one domain can be applied effectively in diverse contexts.
Tailoring Resumes for Impact: Rather than listing transferable skills generically, the hosts stress the importance of tailoring resumes to specific clients or projects. They advocate for a targeted approach that highlights relevant skills and experiences tailored to the client's needs.
Continuous Learning: Lifelong learning is emphasized as a crucial aspect of career development. They encourage listeners to observe and analyze business processes in various settings, fostering a mindset of curiosity and adaptability.
The Power of Networking: Building meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues is discussed as a valuable strategy for professional growth. They share insights on the benefits of informal networking, whether through coffee meetings or casual conversations, in gaining diverse perspectives and insights.
Actionable Takeaways: The episode concludes with actionable advice for listeners, including the importance of observing business processes, diligent note-taking, and cultivating genuine interest in people.



Conclusion:
Andy and Cat wrap up the episode by encouraging consultants, especially those early in their careers or transitioning to new areas, to embrace curiosity and ask questions to better serve clients. By leveraging transferable skills, embracing continuous learning, and fostering meaningful connections, consultants can enhance their effectiveness and versatility in addressing client needs across various industries. The hosts underscore the importance of practical insights and actionable strategies for professional success in the consulting field.
 

Introduction:
Kat introduces Pam August, founder and president of Connecting Potentials, as a visionary leader in the realm of organizational development and consulting.
Pillars of Pam's Work:
Pam's approach revolves around three fundamental pillars: organizational development, team effectiveness, and relationship systems.
She emphasizes strategy and culture alignment within organizations, highlighting the importance of coaching and embodied development practices like yoga and mindfulness.
Insights into Human Systems:
Human systems are complex and adaptive, unlike technical systems, making them unpredictable and emergent.
Pam discusses the challenges of change management, citing examples of how humans resist change due to the metabolic cost of active thought and action.
Compliance vs. Commitment:
Pam distinguishes between compliance, complacency, and commitment, illustrating how different approaches yield different results.
She shares anecdotes about compliance, complacency, and commitment in various contexts, emphasizing the importance of engaging individuals to build commitment.
Navigating Organizational Culture:
Pam delves into the unconscious, implicit, and invisible aspects of organizational culture, stressing the need to make unconscious biases and assumptions conscious.
She advocates for intentional team dynamics, where roles and contributions are made explicit and visible to foster collaboration and alignment.
 
Unveiling Potential: Pam introduces her forthcoming book, emphasizing the inherent capacity for exponential impact within individuals, teams, and cultures. She highlights the interconnectedness of personal and collective potential, setting the stage for a deeper exploration.
 
The Three Pillars of Action: Pam unveils three foundational actions—intend, notice, and move—as catalysts for navigating dynamic environments. Through intentionality and acute awareness, individuals and teams can drive meaningful progress towards desired outcomes.
 
Intention vs. Outcome: Drawing a clear distinction between intention and outcome, Pam underscores the importance of aligning personal intentions with collective objectives. By setting intentions grounded in purpose and embodying desired states of being, individuals can foster authentic connection and collaboration.
 
Meta Skills and Collective Intentions: Pam introduces the concept of meta skills as amplified intentions, transcending individual agendas to shape collective experiences. By fostering shared intentions and meta skills, teams can cultivate a cohesive culture of engagement and alignment.
 
The Power of Noticing: Through a compelling anecdote, Pam illustrates the transformative impact of acute awareness in team dynamics. By actively noticing underlying patterns and implicit barriers, individuals can initiate meaningful dialogue and catalyze positive change.
 
Purpose-driven Vision: Addressing challenges in articulating mission and vision, Pam emphasizes the importance of grounding organizational goals in purpose. Rather than fixating on semantics, individuals and startups can align their actions with core values, fostering organic growth and evolution.
 
 
 
 
Unpacking Potential: A Deep Dive
Pam elaborates on the narrative journey within her upcoming book, "Potential: How to Connect What's Already There for Exponential Impact." Through storytelling, she guides readers in shifting their mindset from focusing on problems to recognizing and harnessing potential. Pam emphasizes understanding the human operating systems and capacity to act, feel, and think, supported by insights from neuroscience.
Dimensions of Connection:
She outlines experiences of disconnection characterized by strain, swirl, or being stuck, contrasting with the state of connection marked by energy, ease, and effectiveness. Pam introduces the practice of "intend, notice, and move" as a transformative tool, backed by behavior

Welcome to another episode of "The Art of Consulting Podcast" with your hosts, Andy Fry and Cat Lam. As seasoned IT consultants, CPAs, and professional development connoisseurs, we aim to bring you inspiring messages to help you discover the X factor in your professional field, leading to the success you truly deserve in your career and life.

About Our Guest Today:
Edmund Metera is a senior project manager at CWB Financial Group in Canada.
He firmly believes that the keys to delivering successful projects are not only founded upon expert project management and business analysis competencies but on recognizing, tailoring and applying the best-suited methodologies and techniques to suit the unique technologies, constraints and opportunities at hand.
That philosophy is loud and clear in Ed's book: Universal Process Modeling Procedure: The Practical Guide to High-Quality Business Process Models. He has taught and mentored project managers and business analysts in best practices for professional organizations such as PMI, IIBA, and CMMI. He teaches IIBA-registered business analysis courses and serves as an advisor to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology's Corporate and International Training department’s Business Analysis Certificate Program. He is also the founder of www.ProcessModelingAdvisor.com and a regular BATimes, Modern Analyst and IRM Connects contributor.
 
Episode Summary:
In this episode, Our host Cat Lam and our special guest for today, Ed Metera delve into the world of project management, specifically focusing on the PRINCE2 methodology. They explore the significance of shifting the focus from activities to products, and how this approach enhances project effectiveness and delivery.
Key Points Covered:
Introduction of Guest: Ed Matera
Highlighting Ed's extensive experience in project management, including his roles as a book author, conference speaker, tutor, and senior project manager at Canadian Western Bank.
Emphasizing Ed's dedication to advancing the practice of process modeling through ProcessModelingAdvisor.com.
Understanding PRINCE2 Methodology
Comparison with the Project Management Institute's Body of Knowledge (PMI BOK).
Exploring the seven philosophies of PRINCE2, particularly the principle of "Focus on Products."
Ed's personal experience as a certified PRINCE2 practitioner and its impact on his project management approach.
Product-Focused Project Management
Defining products within a project lifecycle, emphasizing tangible deliverables over activities.
Illustrating the product-oriented approach through the example of implementing a mobile application.
Assigning clear responsibilities to specialists based on product delivery, enhancing accountability and efficiency.
Integrating the product-focused mindset into project planning, scheduling, and communication strategies.
Addressing challenges and dependencies within the project by prioritizing critical path products.
Managing risks and issues by aligning discussions with product delivery milestones.
Overcoming Resource Overlap
Mitigating resource overlap by assigning single individuals responsible for specific products.
Ensuring clarity in roles and responsibilities to minimize disruptions and prioritize product completion.
Product-driven Approach:
Instead of focusing solely on activities, Prince2 emphasizes being product-driven.
Each project team member is clear on their responsibility for a specific product or activity within the project.
Collaboration is encouraged, but accountability remains paramount.
Accountability:
Prince2 advocates for appointing one spokesperson or accountable individual for each micro-product or aspect of the project.
This ensures clarity and efficiency in decision-making and progress tracking.
The question of "Is it done yet?" becomes pivotal in assessing progress and meeting objectives.
Defining Success Criteria:
Success cri

Introduction:

Welcome to another episode of "Art of Consulting" with Andy Fry and Cat Lam. Today, we're diving deep into the transformative magic of active exploration and the incredible ways it can spark creativity and open your mind.
 
The host, Cat Lam, kicked off another insightful episode in their ERP series. She welcomed Arlene Poon, a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the ERP industry, particularly in large-scale implementations within the construction and utilities sectors.


Exploring HCM:
Arlene's expertise lies in human capital management (HCM), emphasizing its critical role within ERP systems. HCM encompasses both human resources management and talent management, serving as a foundational layer for various modules.


HR's Human Touch:
Arlene sheds light on the unique aspects of working as a business analyst in HCM, emphasizing HR's focus on employee well-being and celebrations.
The human-centric approach of HR adds warmth and inclusivity to project environments, fostering a sense of community.
 
Understanding HCM Modules:
Arlene delves into the core components of HCM, highlighting employee management as its cornerstone. Core HR information serves as a springboard for other modules such as benefits, performance management, compensation, and recruitment.
 
Building on Core HR:
The conversation touches upon the iterative nature of ERP implementations, starting with core HR and expanding to encompass additional functionalities. Cat and Arlene discuss the foundational layer of HRMS (Human Resources Management System) within Oracle and its evolution over time.
 
HCM forms the bedrock of ERP systems, encompassing HR and talent management.
HR's people-centric approach fosters a supportive and celebratory project environment.
Core HR information serves as a basis for various HCM modules, facilitating streamlined operations and decision-making. ERP implementations typically begin with core HR before expanding to incorporate additional functionalities.



Evolution of HR Systems:
The conversation starts with an overview of the evolution of HR systems, from HRMS to HRIS to HCS, highlighting the integration of core HR and talent management modules.



Integration and Third-Party Solutions
The hosts discuss the integration of HR systems with third-party solutions like payroll and the considerations involved in choosing between a single system or best-of-breed solutions.



Business Needs and Customization
They explore how specific business needs, such as complex recruitment processes, may necessitate the adoption of standalone applications tailored to those needs.



Position Management and Budgeting
The conversation delves into the significance of position management in structuring organizations and aligning budgets with staffing requirements.



Successful HR Implementations
The hosts outline the key outcomes of successful HR system implementations, emphasizing improved reporting, analysis, and efficiency in managing HR processes.



Preparation for Implementations
They conclude by discussing the essential legwork organizations should undertake before engaging in an HR system implementation, focusing on documenting current processes and assessing data cleanliness.



Data Cleanup:
Arlene emphasizes the importance of starting with clean data to simplify conversion and migration processes. Tat agrees, highlighting how consistent data capture leads to smoother transitions.





Engaging Business Analysts:
They discuss the value of involving business analysts to ensure accurate understanding of business processes and requirements.



Common Pitfalls: 
Arlene and Tat share experiences of data conversion challenges and delayed implementations due to inadequate planning. They stress the need for a solid data conversion strategy and thorough understanding of business needs.



Role of System Integrators: 
Cat explains how system integrator

Welcome to another episode of "Art of Consulting" with Andy Fry and Cat Lam. Today, we're diving deep into the transformative magic of active exploration and the incredible ways it can spark creativity and open your mind.
 
Our host Cat Lam introduces Ken McKnight, Vice President of Information Technology at Peace Hills Insurance. Ken's extensive background in IT, digital transformation, and consulting is highlighted, emphasizing his role in driving organizational change and technological advancements.


Motivation for Career in Technology (2:10 - 4:10)
Ken discusses his upbringing in a family of small business owners and his passion for merging technology with business, leading to a career in healthcare informatics.
 
The importance of bridging the gap between technology and business is emphasized.


Challenges and Rewards of Digital Transformation (6:11 - 9:23)
Ken delves into the challenges organizations face in justifying the costs of digital transformation initiatives, focusing on efficiencies, customer experience, and market against return on investment. Metrics for evaluating the success of digital competitiveness.


Key Initiatives in Digital Transformation (12:10 - 15:55)
Ken outlines key projects at Peace Hills Insurance, including staff upskilling, migration to cloud-based systems, and core system upgrades. The importance of organizational change management in ensuring successful transformation is emphasized.


Transformation of Job Roles (17:02 - 21:54)
The evolution of job roles due to technological advancements is explored, referencing tools like Microsoft's Copilot for AI-generated coding and their impact on traditional tasks.
The significance of upskilling employees to effectively utilize new tools and technologies is highlighted.


Navigating Challenges in Digital Transformation (22:25 - 27:14)
Challenges encountered during digital transformation, such as balancing operational maintenance with innovation, managing third-party dependencies, and staying compliant with evolving regulations, are discussed. Strategies for effective release management and change management are considered essential for successful transformation initiatives.



Conclusion
Host Cat Lam expresses gratitude to Ken McKnight for his valuable insights and contributions to the discussion. Closing remarks emphasize the ongoing evolution of technology and the importance of adaptation for future success in digital transformation.
 

Welcome back to the Art of Consulting Podcast, where we explore and having to share an opinion without being argumentative.
Inspiring messages to help professionals discover their X Factor and achieve success in their careers. Our guest for this episode is Gopal Singh, an ex-military who jump started his career journey to consulting.Conversation Highlights:
 
Military Transition Challenges:
 
Joined at 26 during wartime, Gopal was mentally prepared for uncertainties.
Leaving family behind during deployments, a significant challenge. In this episode, he reflects on personal growth, learning, and challenges faced in the military.

Learning the Question "Why":
For Gopal, Military experience emphasized the importance of asking why. Just like in consulting, asking why is crucial for understanding, problem-solving, and creating buy-in. Recognizing the right time and place for asking why, avoiding negative connotations.
 
Skills Transition from Military to Consulting:
Joined a large company in a consulting role. Gopal emphasizes the need for flexibility, juggling multiple roles. They also brought in the idea of acknowledging the challenge of working with process-driven individuals. Consulting is linked to all aspects of the role, from meeting clients to problem-solving.
 
Navigating Corporate Environment:
Corporate world involves constant reorganization and change.
Gopal highlights the keys to being flexible and adaptable and what is the importance of asking clients/executives if they already have a solution in mind.
 
Being a Trusted Advisor:
Establishing trust by understanding the client's goals and challenges. Andy and Gopal start differentiating between supporting an existing plan and trying to propose an alternative. They also discussed the positioning as a valuable, trusted advisor and expert in problem-solving.



Discussion on Asking Upfront: 
Drawing parallels to a project management class where the speaker missed out on asking crucial questions. Straightforward questioning in avoiding unnecessary efforts and uncovering existing solutions. Developing the courage to ask questions in various aspects of life is an essential in the Consulting world.
 
Transition to Consulting and Preparation:
Gopal shared a personal story to Andy, the host, of him transitioning to consulting and a project involving building a vehicle. Emphasizing the lesson learned about the importance of asking questions and avoiding assumptions. They discussed the shift from traditional career thinking to viewing careers as projects and always looking for the next step.
 
Starting a Consulting Firm:
Discussing the process of preparation, including website development, business documentation, and product testing.
 
The Philosophy of Curiosity:
The duo is encouraging a mindset of constant movement, exploration, and looking for new opportunities.
 
Team Dynamics and Self-Promotion:
Discussing the importance of being a good team player and sharing success within a team. Acknowledging the emotional drain of projects and the role of teammate encouragement in maintaining motivation. Reflecting on the challenge of self-promotion and the necessity of communicating individual contributions to project success.


Advice for Aspiring Consultants:
Gopal highlighted the significance of being oneself, asking questions tactfully, and being open to learning from others. He encouraged individuals to take time to listen and absorb information, avoiding the urge to rush into showcasing one's own knowledge.
 
Clifton Strengths and Team Dynamics: Gopal shared information about his services at careerjourneyco.com, specifically around Clifton strengths. He discussed how understanding individual and team strengths can lead to more efficient and effective collaboration, emphasizing the impact of communication based on individuals' top five strengths.
 
Conclusion:
The conversation highlights the importance of understanding challe