How to Build a Client Communication Plan When working in a project-based environment, your client stakeholders hold the keys to success. Key stakeholders set the direction and tone for the organization. Therefore, ensuring they understand and are bought into the vision should be a continuous effort focused on building lasting relationships ...

When I Say Portfolio… When many people think of Portfolio, one of the first examples that comes to mind is a Financial Portfolio, a summary of someone’s financial assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.).  It makes sense as to why that is the case – this notion of a Financial Portfolio ...

  One of the first steps in becoming an outcomes-based Professional Service (PS) business is to have at least one outcomes-based offer that drives customer change and results.  These offers can range from enhancing the use of a product to a higher-level business outcome – lower costs, improved market presence, revenue ...

Make Sure They’re In This With You As we covered in “Setting the Stage,” innovation no longer drives success. Therefore, B2B companies are changing their business models to become more entangled with their key customers, and savvy companies are looking for Professional Services (PS) to play a pivotal role in that ...

There are several fundamental changes going on in the B2B world today.  Established B2B companies are feeling both the real pinch of commoditization and the natural market pressures of competitors that are disrupting markets and driving significant valuations. In response, companies are trying to determine where they can go to ...

Often, companies organize their portfolios from an internal point of view based on their organizational structure – i.e., which part of the organization created, manages, or delivers on the offer. This can result in operating redundancies and inefficiencies, inability to tap into best practices across business units, and in extreme ...

Setting the Stage It is a very tumultuous time in the B2B world.  Companies are having to challenge the status quo on how they do business.  Most companies built their business around a product line or small group of product lines.  As these product lines mature, companies undergo commoditization.  This often ...

The difference between a capability-based Professional Services (PS) business and an outcomes-based business from a customer’s point of view is quite stark.  We have interviewed several hundred technology buyers over the last few years including software, hardware, high-tech and near-tech firms.  We have also been involved in designing hundreds of ...