Compass Consulting Associates: The Business System Lab for Operating-Level Teams: Sample of Action Learning Potential Projects

Potential Project Focus Areas

Marketing

Updating and validating the way the organization segments its customers – with recommendations to reorganize to better meet the needs of emerging segments.
Examining and analyzing how the marketing program actually is carried out – with recommendations to change the process to counteract its weaker aspects.
In-depth exploration of the customer "need-behind-the-need," through site visits and the "customer's customer" research – with recommendations to reposition the product.

Operations

Studying and documenting the experience of a primary service from the customer's perspective – with recommendations for significant competitive improvements.
Analyzing the sequential nature of new product development – with recommendations to reduce development time using parallel design structure.
Identifying and challenging the low-value adding steps of a core process – with recommendations to eliminate or outsource those productivity draining steps.

Finance

Investigating and determining the true production cost of a product using activity based accounting methods – with recommendations affecting pricing and profit.
Identifying and analyzing the inventory costs (raw material, finished goods) of a given product – with recommendations that reduce total cost.
Exploring and quantifying the cost of quality associated with a given product – with recommendations to decrease overall cost through defect prevention.

Purpose and Culture

Design and carry out an employee perceptions survey – with recommendations to emphasize and build on strengths while addressing key employee concerns.
Explore and document an aspect of the organization's culture – how decisions are made – with recommendations to strengthen a bias for action.
Conduct a values inquiry to assess the agreement between stated organization values and individual values – with recommendations for strengthening employee commitment.