Academy of Business Strategy News and Gossip.

Mihaela in Romania said: Dear Paul
I should have started to study beginning with March, but I did not get the courses and I understand I have to wait for a month or so to get them. The point is that I do not know how the comunication with ABS should be. If I have questions for ABS, is it ok to address them each time I need support? Is it ok with ABS representative to advise each time I have something that is not clear for me?
A forum dedicated to ABS students and graduates would have been for a help and some basic questions could have been avoided to be asked directly to ABS and that way would have been more lean, but I agree with you that some advices might be subjective and it would not help at all. From your experience Paul, how do you find the comunication with ABS? I just want your opinion on this. I found all yuor statements about ABS interesting and helpful and I would appreciate your answer. Thank you. Miha

Hi Miha,

What Paul says is absolutely correct. The Guide to Tutorial Support provides all the information that is needed. The Academy is very strict about formality and procedure and they like your emails to be structured properly in order for them to assist you. They suggest that you put together a series of questions and email them approximately once a month in order to get feed back. All your questions are then kept in a file and the tutors refer back to it when answering your queries.

Kalai

Thank you Kalai.
I have the confidence that I will get the necessary support from ABS and now I have the confirmation that I will be advised by the Academy about the way that we will comunicate about different issues.
Cheers. Miha

Hi Paul,

I am starting my short term and long term manual.There are projects with both the manuals what would you advice me to send both the projects together or concentrate on short term first or on long term.

Course says it takes two months to complete the course manual would you suggest the actual time it takes to complete.

Many thanks

Anuj

Well you could do both. But you should know the long term courses are compulsory, when the short term courses are not.
Maybe by knowing this you will change your priorities.

Great to find this forum! I am on the CPC program and think their model is fantastic! But find their feedback on tutorial work not very helpful. Also struggle to understand what they exactly want. Can any current or past CPC student give me some advice?

Hi John,

I found that too, the feedback from TS hasn't been too helpful, didn't really answer my questions. It was my first contact with TS and I must admit, I didn't follow the correct procedure so maybe that was why but will try again in the correct manner very soon and let you know.

Regards

Having undertaken three post-graduate programmes via distance-learning myself I found the tutorial support terrific with the Academy when compared with the other two. I think it also helps the programme being practical too. If you are not finding that you are receiving the answers that you are looking for, it may be that you are not asking the right questions. I think that the Academy structures its tutorial support in such a way to avoid this. For example, by listing and numbering each question that you want to ask then the Academy is able to provide specific answers in relation to each and every question. The more specific you can be the better.

Hope this helps.

Sure Larry,

Your most probably correct and that does help because I know I didn't do that in my initial request.

Thanks

Anuj

The how to study guide should help you with this. It depends upon your current circumstances, what your priorities are and how much time you have available. The time estimates for the long-term course manuals are just about right but you will need to double this if you undertake the short-term course manuals as well.

John Z and ABS in Watford...I found that I received detailed feedback on a one-to-one basis with everything and thought that the tutorial support was really excellent. Remember that you will only get out of it what you put into it.

Thanks for tip Paul, appreciate it.

AJ CPC in London

Are you still accessing this forum AJ? I noticed from earlier postings that you have now graduated as a CPC and are studying DPC. If you remember you worked as an Associate with one of my clients when you were studying CPC many moons ago. I graduated as a DPC 3 years ago and understand that the diploma has now changed considerably. If you receive this message, let me know how you are getting on.

David S

Hi David. I recently graduated as a CPC and know AJ from working with him as an Associate. I think he may have given up on this forum unfortunately...he doesn't suffer fools easily I am afraid and you will unfortunately always get the odd one or two on internet forums.

I have recently enrolled upon DPC but haven't started yet. I understand that the main difference with DPC now is that it has been amended to cover the five years of service implementation and I think this is why most CPC graduates go straight into it. I know a few other DPC grads and they are all still managing the same five clients that they graduated with as a CPC, which illustrates that CPC services are sustainable over a significant period of time. I have just started servicing my five clients and so I am particularly interested in this. Are you still servicing the same clients David or have they changed?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks ABS, Larry and Paul. This is really a forum for prospective students, is there any other forums, blogs etc. where ABS people chat?

Dear John Z
This has already been discussed. Please do a scroll up. I asked the same.
Miha

Hi Paul

I understand regarding AJ.

Yes I hear that DPC has changed a lot since my day. I have only changed two clients since graduating as a CPC. A lot of people think that services are just scheduled to end after five years but this is not the case. Clients like to work at their own pace and the reality is that they will have done well to fully implement your service process within five years. It invariably takes much longer than this and it is important that clients maintain the service process too. Five years may seem like a long time when you look ahead, but remember that you are only on the clients' premises for one day each month, so five years really equates to 60 days (only two months). I changed one client because they offered me more money, the second new client was as a result of a merger.

Nice to hear from you Paul and the very best of luck with your DPC studies.

Paul K in Oxford, United Kingdom said: Anuj

The how to study guide should help you with this. It depends upon your current circumstances, what your priorities are and how much time you have available. The time estimates for the long-term course manuals are just about right but you will need to double this if you undertake the short-term course manuals as well.

John Z and ABS in Watford...I found that I received detailed feedback on a one-to-one basis with everything and thought that the tutorial support was really excellent. Remember that you will only get out of it what you put into it.

Thanks Paul,

Hi,

Any body who is recently registered with ABS has registered their own company as consultnacy business or still busy in working in course manual.

As I am thinking to register my consultancy busines once I have some associate assignment.

Please let me know your views

Anuj

Anuj

You do not need to register a company until you graduate as a CPC. Associate clients employ you on a contractual basis.

Hi Anuj,
If you come on, just to let you know I managed to find the link to this site. It was nice chatting with you. Do keep in touch

Hello All......I too am into month 6 of CPC. Hard work I must admit, but then good things in life don't come cheap!!

VPCPC

Hi VPCPC, I am also now been on the CPC for a few month Find it hard going I am also behind the schedule and struggle for finish the the serive template, project study 13 and 25 before approaching my first client partner. How are you getting on! Any tips you can give me? Anyone else that can give me some tips?

David S (DPC)

Thanks for the feedback David, much appreciated. Yes the sustainability in my view is the critical success factor with CPC/DPC services and is ultimately the main attraction for both clients and consultants. It is a breath of fresh air really.

New (CPC) guys
I think that you can take it as a given that everyone finds it hard at the beginning. Productising a consulting service so that it becomes tangible is probably the biggest challenge that any consultant will face during their career and most traditional consultants never achieve it. CPC does provide a well thought out step by step process for doing this but remember that you need to have a clear understanding about what your proposed unique consulting service proposition will be, otherwise you will struggle with PJ13 anyway and may need to consider the short-term manuals first. Don't try to get to the end game too early, just take one step at a time. ABS tutorial support is really excellent guys...the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

Good luck to all...

Hi to all

I'm a new CPC student too.

PJ13 is hard at first. If it helps, I struggled initially because I thought the processes were difficult to understand, but developing my consulting service template really helped, it was a bit like a light coming on and then I realised that the reason why I was finding it so difficult was because I did not really understand my own service that well. Once you see this as a product and do the necessary research into it, the programme processes all click into place.

Hope this helps.

I am finding the simple process of preliminary analysis, R&D, E&S and establishing direction challenging. Is there any literature on exactly what each of these mean in context. Example: Is the R&D on the process you will follow to do Planning, D, I, M, M &R or is it actually already R&D that should happen part of the Planning process?
In preliminary analysis objectives – to you always cover all 10 points? Are the Key issues not sometimes a repeat of the important objectives?

David S

Hi David. Yes I am still alive and kicking...I just don't get automated messages from this forum any more because it just fills up my inbox and I just look in every now and then when I have time to burn in an airport or something!

Yes I am finding DPC much easier in fact than CPC, probably because everything is already developed and you understand the processes. It also helps when you are fiancially independent which of course you are after CPC and this tends to take the pressure off considerably I think.

Good to hear that you are cracking on Paul...I'll pop in every now and then.

John Z

This is just the strategic process that you need to work through, but you seem to be really mixed up here John. My advice would be to contact tutorial support. The R&D relates to the R&D sections of your consulting service which need to be developed, but you may need to do some R&D of your own first to understand your service proposition...

Don't get bogged down with the processes, you need to understand your service proposition first. Good luck.

Hi Mac, thanks for the reply. I was not referring to the project 13 R&D but to the general process followed for each subject matter? Or maybe I have it totally wrong!?

John Z

I am not really sure what you are asking John. It is difficult for me to pinpoint where your misunderstanding lies from your postings here. This is probably why TS is so good because you learn to be more structured and specific in your approach. If I can help I would be glad to.

Thanks Larry Mac. Let me try and explain. Let’s take the first part of project 13: Internal analysis. It follows the process of preliminary analysis, R&D, E&S and establishing direction. (The same for the other parts R&D, Strategic objectives etc of project 13).
The first step under preliminary analysis is to consider ways in which you would Plan & Develop, I&M, M&Improve. Then set objectives – do you always cover all 10 points? Are the Key issues not sometimes a repeat of the important objectives?
Then the next step is R&D - Is the R&D on the process you will follow to do Planning, D, I, M, M &R or is it actually already R&D that should happen part of the Planning process?

John Z

Yes. This relates to the internal analysis section of your consulting service. The process of preliminary analysis, research and development, evaluation and selection and establishing direction are merely the rocesses that you should be working through in order to develop this part of your consulting service. The same is then true of the other sections of your consulting service as featured in PJ13.

Re-prelimary analysis...the objectives relate to the objectives that you want to achieve with each section of your consulting service. The objectives should never be repeated.

Te-R&D...I don't know what you mean by D,I,M,M & R John and it would help if you didn't abbreviate, but once again you should be developing the research and development part of each section of your consulting service.

If you are a registered student John you should really be asking the tutors these questions because while I am close to graduating as a CPC I am not a qualified tutor. If you are still not getting this then I suggest you contact tutorial support.

Hope this is of some help.

AJ

Good to see you are still dropping in from time to time AJ. Qualified experience is always valued here. Yes I have my nose to the grindstone as usual. I am starting DPC soon. I thought that I would enjoy having a break from studying after graduating as a CPC but I am actually looking forward to getting back into it again. How sad am I?

Keep in touch AJ.

Thanks Larry. You have already helped a lot! The tutorial support does not offer this kind of interactive Q&A. which gives much more clarity. The abbreviations are Planning & Develop, Implement and Manage, Monitor and review. Can we please close the point on R&D.
If I take your explanation for the objectives would the R&D under Internal Analysis then be R&D on what the best way would be to achieve the objectives for Internal Analysis? If so what would be the actions under the Planning and Development in Establishing Direction?

What a terrific forum...I don't usually subscribe to forums because they tend to be all negative and non-productive but this one is really good and it is good to see so many CPC graduates and DPC students using this too. Thank you guys.

I am a CPC student (month 6). I would totally endorse what Louise has said and once you start developing the service with client partners, it really helps to build confidence.

Paul K...I assume that if you have graduated you have started servicing your five clients now. Was the transition from student to consultant easy? Many thanks.

Good to hear from you again AJ.

I am pleased that I may have been of some assistance John but you are wrong about tutorial support. It does offer an interactive Q&A service. In fact they specifically ask you to list and number any questions that you want to ask to ensure that you receive specific answers to every question. Internet forums are great for interaction and informal coffee breaks but you won't succeed without using tutorial support. What I have offered is my own personal interpretation, it is not a qualified opinion.

John Z in London, United Kingdom said: Hi VPCPC, I am also now been on the CPC for a few month Find it hard going I am also behind the schedule and struggle for finish the the serive template, project study 13 and 25 before approaching my first client partner. How are you getting on! Any tips you can give me? Anyone else that can give me some tips?

Hi John Z,

Yes I have similar issues like yourself really, but once the template is complete, our 'product' is ready to be sold to prospective 'clients'. Have you thought out your first client partner. It is the students responsibility right?

Hi VPCPC, yes it is our responsibility. I have not yet but have one lined up. I do not understand exactly what happens after that. Do we write questioners or approach letters to prospective client partner or does the ABS? Does someone know?

It is only a live client example that you need, but make sure that your service template has been approved by the Academy first before testing your processes. After that the Academy engages client partners. Refer to your how to study guide page 19 for a detailed explanation...

Miha

Thank you Miha. I had forgotten just how much information was available on the programme web site and it is a good idea to review this regularly. It definately also helps to focus upon your service process rather than to get bogged down with the programme process. The programme process is actually quite easy once you get your head around precisely what service you are going to develop. I am actually progressing quite nicely now but I have been sensible with my study time plan to take pressure off. I don't really mind how long it takes me as long as I get there in the end.

Louise L in New York said: It is only a live client example that you need, but make sure that your service template has been approved by the Academy first before testing your processes. After that the Academy engages client partners. Refer to your how to study guide page 19 for a detailed explanation...

Hi Louise,

Thanks for your comments above. What satge have you now reached? You were right PJ13 is the most difficult, but once you have fathomed this, its easier.

What a nice forum! Hi, VPCPC, Louise, Mihaela, Larry and all. I am still busy with my service template. Do your 60 sections all follow the same process – Internal analysis, Research and development, Strategic objectives, Evaluation and selection, Strategic plan development, Individual action plans, Key performance indicators (KPIs), Time management, Motivation management, Process map? Did you stick to the 60 workshops, 12 per year etc.?

Hi Pete

These are the processes that you need to work through but don't base your own consulting service process in the CPC process...I made that mistake. The idea is that each service should be as different and as unique as possible. You do need to develop 60 workshops though, one each month for 60 months. It may be hard work but it is really great once you start to see it all coming together.

Hope this helps.

Hi Larry, Thanks! That is why I am finding it difficult!! What is the purpose of the CPC process then? Is it to ensure that you have somewhere in your process the 10 processes, or what? Does each workshop (or section) have to have 10 sub sections?

Shoud the sub sections in each of the workshops be the same, just content differ?

The CPC processes are what you should be working through when developing your consulting service. If you are unsure about your own service process, re-visit your service process form. You may need to undertake some research into this if you are unsure about what you are developing Pete. Refer to your how to study guide.

VPCPC
I've just submitted my 1st draft of PJ13...I'm not excited!

The support guide entitled "how to study" is right on the button here. If you know precisely what you want to develop then PJ13 is a bit like a light coming on. The CPC processes actually make the productising process much much easier. I can understand why some students might struggle though because if you are not sure about your own service proposition then PJ13 may not make much sense. The "how to study" guide actually refers to this and recommends students to work through the short-term manuals if this is the case. I think it was Larry who said to concentrate on your service process...good advice Larry.

Well, I think I've earnt a long weekend off now. Have fun everyone.

Louise, did you finish your service process template first?

Yes Pete...the service process template needs to be submitted together with PJ13 and PJ25 although I am going to wait for feedback first before submitting PJ25.

Louise. Does your template explicitly have the process Internal analysis, Research and development, Strategic objectives, Evaluation and selection….etc. in each of the 60 workshops/sections? Or did you just insure that you, for example, have an internal analysis process in it?

Yes Pete...these are the sub-sections of your consulting service. I'm off for the weekend now but will be back next week.

Louise - Enjoy you weekend off!!!