1. COMM 4170-01: Applied Organizational Communication Instructor: Dan Lair Day Three: Introduction to Consulting August 31, 2005

2. Today’s Agenda First 15-20 minutes: Group meetings Covering DeWine Readings Discussion: Ethical Responsibilities of Consultants

3. DeWine, Chapters 1 & 2 On pp. 5-6, Dewine argues that communication is “irreversible, unrepeatable, and reciprocal”? What does this mean? What are the implications? On p. 3 (and later as well), DeWine introduces (and develops) the notion of an “internal” consultant? What does this mean? What are the advantages and disadvantages of “internal” and “external” consultants? What is the difference between training and consulting? How are they similar? What skills are associated with each?

4. DeWine, Chapter 3 On p. 38, DeWine outlines several issues that clients need to address early in the consulting relationship. Why? How might the answers to these questions affect the consultation process? What does DeWine mean by a “collaborative model of consulting”? How is that different from the Consulcube Model she outlines? How are the two approaches compatible?

5. Consulting Models (adapted from Scholl, 1999) Expert Model – Consultants have expertise – Consultants diagnose problems – Consultants provide solutions – Metaphor: Doctor-patient relationship “Pair of Hands” Model – Organization defines problem and solutions – Consultants provide labor Process Model – Collaborative approach to problem solving – Shared knowledge (client knows organization/industry; consultant knows process) – Collaborative decision making at each stage (from diagnosis to solution) – Focus is on teaching organization to solve problems itself. Discussion Question: What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of each model from the perspective of both the organization and the consultant?

6. Group Discussion: Using DeWine’s brief discussion of consulting ethics on pp. 446-451, discuss the ethical implications of the following situations: – Goodall’s article “On Becoming an Organizational Detective” – DeWine’s “Lessons Learned” mini-case in Ch. 3 (pp. 45-46 Pay particular attention to this overarching question: What are the consultant’s professional and ethical responsibilities to: – The client organization? – Its management? – Its membership? – The consultant herself? – Other interested parties?