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Approaches to Research-based Consultation

Approaches to Research-based Consultation. Ted Zorn Waikato Management School. Objective:. Understand approaches to research and consulting, when they’re appropriate, and their implications for conducting student research projects. Two Approaches to Research : Ethnographer vs. Clinician.

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Approaches to Research-based Consultation

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  1. Approaches to Research-based Consultation Ted Zorn Waikato Management School

  2. Objective: • Understand approaches to research and consulting, when they’re appropriate, and their implications for conducting student research projects

  3. Two Approaches to Research: Ethnographer vs. Clinician Major Similarities: • Both involve fieldwork (i.e., interaction with/in client org) and may involve recommendations for client Major Differences • Goals • Ethnographer= explore an issue in which s/he is interested to further knowledge • Clinician= explore issue about which client is concerned to facilitate organizational improvement • Roles • Ethnographer = researcher; clinician = consultant • Assumptions about organizational change: • Ethnographer: assumes s/he shouldn’t change the organization; clinician assumes s/he should

  4. Models of Consultation • Purchase • Client purchases a ready-made product or service • Doctor-Patient • Client hires consultant to diagnose problems and prescribe solutions • Process consultation • Client hires consultant to help him/her identify problems and decide on solutions

  5. Process Consultation • A general model of helping applied to organizational consultation • Assumes client will be most committed and able to implement solutions of his/her own design • Assumes consultant’s role is a facilitator • Assumes consultant works him/herself out of a job by teaching PC skills to client

  6. Which is most appropriate for communication consultant when… • Client wants a new logo or slogan? • Client wants you to audit current communication practices and suggest changes? • Client wants you to help “fix” relationships with key stakeholders? • Client wants you to help prepare a crisis management plan? • Client wants you to help “re-brand” a product line

  7. Student Research Projects: Which model fits best? • Consider typical features: • You initiate • You lack experience as a consultant • Client has lower expectations than for a paid consultant • Client is less committed to change So, appropriate models for student projects are typically: • For research: (Modified) ethnographer • For consultation: (Modified) doctor-patient

  8. Okay, then what lessons can we learn from clinical and PC models? • Not all your help must be provided in the report; give tentative suggestions earlier in the process • Consider responses to your suggestions as “data” • The most helpful diagnosis and recommendations are ones developed collaboratively

  9. Sources • Schein, E. H. (1988). Process consultation, Vol. 1: Its role in organization development. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. • Schein, E. H. (1987). The Clinical perspective in fieldwork. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

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