Politics and Discovery in Consulting

Introduction

The intention of the discovery process in consulting is to gain a deep understanding of an organization's current situation, challenges, opportunities, goals, and values. This process typically involves conducting research, analyzing data, and engaging with stakeholders to identify areas of improvement and develop recommendations for action. The discovery process is thus a critical first step in any consulting engagement, as it helps to establish a shared understanding of the current state of the organization and the desired future state. It also provides a foundation for the development of a comprehensive and effective consulting solution that addresses the organization's needs and aligns with its strategic objectives.

Incorporating Issues of Politics into Discovery

When incorporating issues related to organizational politics into a Discovery approach as a consultant, it is important to first recognize and understand the various power dynamics, conflicts, and interests that exist within the organization. As Bolman and Deal (2017) point out, Organizations are both arenas for internal politics and political agents with their own agendas, resources, and strategies (p. 234). In every organization there is a political game that is being played and the consultant must be aware of this. The consultant therefore should be mindful that resistance will occurand so the challenge is how to help the client to be open to the discovery process (Block, 1999, p. 163). In other words, navigating through clients management styles and organizational...

164). The first step is to realize that there are no technical problemsonly questions to be asked and steps to be taken. Questions can be asked and answered in different ways, i.e., through conducting interviews, observing interactions and behaviors, and reviewing organizational documents and processes. But the point is to obtain the information to know what needs to be done...…being direct and clear, focusing on the issue, listening actively, offering potential solutions, and following up, a consultant can effectively confront a client and ensure that the project is on track.

Conclusion

Overall, the intention of the discovery process is to enable the consultant to provide the organization with valuable insights and recommendations that can help to improve performance, enhance efficiency, and drive positive change. But during the Discovery process, the consultant may uncover power struggles within the organization, such as competing priorities or conflicting agendas. These power struggles can make it difficult to implement change or drive progress, as different stakeholders may have competing interests. So it is essential to be able to confront issues upfront and be clear with stakeholders about what needs to be done. At the same time, one should try to be neutral about the dynamic and focus on what works and what solutions can be achieved going forward. That way there is less risk of resistance cropping…