1. Montague Consult
Business Management
Consultancy

2. Montague Consult Business
Management Consultancy
How Montague Consult Management Consultants Work
Our first visit to prospective clients is without charge or obligation.
This gives us the opportunity to understand your needs and to make an assessment of how
we would undertake your project.
This first visit also gives you the prospective client the opportunity to meet us and feel
comfortable knowing we have your interests foremost in our minds.
An important part of the first visit is to explore issues and understand the underlying
causes.
After Our First Visit
This first meeting is followed up by a letter setting out our understanding of the objectives
of the project, the steps we plan to take, our estimate of the time required, the cost and
proposed starting and completion dates.
We aim to break each project down into stages that can be reviewed with you. These
stages enable you to assess progress and feel in control of the project.
The recommendations we make are practical, suitable and carefully prepared. We have
found from experience that the most technically advanced or complex solution may not
necessarily be the most appropriate!
We will never undertake projects unless we are confident of completing them successfully.
In addition we do not make recommendations that we are not prepared to implement
ourselves. Indeed, we welcome the opportunity to implement our recommendations.
Our business strategy consultants can help your business increase
sales and grow
Does your business need some expert help to develop and implement business strategy?
Montague Consult Limited offers decades of experience in planning business strategy.
Our national network of business management consultants have a wealth of
experience in strategic planning
Our business strategy consultants have assisted companies in all manner of
industries to achieve success
Business Strategy Explained
Montague Consult Limited provides expert advice and support with corporate development,
corporate strategy planning, strategic management and Montague Consult.
Planning: strategic thinking and strategic business planning identify where the new
opportunities lie.
Positioning: Montague Consult gives your company the insight to be perfectly
placed to exploit each opportunity to the full.

3. Process: putting in place a strategic management process ensures that your
company is constantly primed to use events to its best advantage.
What is strategic planning and how can it help your business grow?
Strategic planning is at the heart of business success, and at the heart of strategic planning
lie key tools such as a M.O.S.T. analysis.
Montague Consult Limited can carry out a M.O.S.T. analysis which will help clarify your:
Mission: where you intend the business to go
Objectives: the key goals needed to achieve your mission
Strategies: the options open to you to achieve your goals
Tactics: how to put these strategies into action
The key to success is for this whole process to hang together. Montague Consult Limited can
provide the systematic, objective overview you need to ensure that every part of the
process locks into place, so that your whole business moves forward in an integrated and
effective way.
It may be that your planning needs are very specific. Perhaps you have a product, a process,
a service — and you need outside, expert help to ensure that you catch your market at
exactly the right time in exactly the right way.
With our nationwide team of experienced strategic planning consultants, we can provide
on-the-spot support and guidance for the length of the project, from when it is a twinkle in
the eye right through the launch and up to its successful signing off. Our business
management consultants will help you generate the business strategy and will guide you
through putting in place the strategic management process that will seek to ensure your
product or service has the right backing, the right positioning and the right promotion to
provide sustainable success.
Whatever the size of your business, from start-up to international company, specific
objective strategic planning support can provide the crucial difference which will mean that
resources are concentrated constructively, energies are focused creatively and the outcome
is fully profitable over the long term.
A clear, carefully stepped corporate strategy invigorates your business, energises your team
and puts your long-term goals within hand’s reach.
Modern business leadership requires a real blend of personal, commercial and strategic
skills, and the foundations of success lie in developing the interaction of these areas.
Montague Consult has worked with a very wide variety of companies and delivers all its
services through its directors who each have a comprehensive and long experience in the
real world of business.
Montague Consult has been the company of choice for the last five years to deliver
leadership master classes on behalf of CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply).
We work on bespoke leadership training and events including:
Effective Leadership Skills Development
Strategy Development and Roll-out
Coaching and Mentoring

4. Team Development and Facilitation
Business Strategy and Planning
They say that failing to plan is planning to fail and this has never been truer than in
business. An organisations success is closely linked to its business vision, strategy and
planning.
Benefits of business planning:
clear company purpose & direction
improve business ability to respond to future demands
strong basis for improving business effectiveness & efficiency
Montague Consult management consultants can help your company create a working
business plan and strategy that will assist you in reaching key goals and protecting your
business's future.
Business Strategy and Business Vision
It is important to understand the difference between your business strategy and business
vision.
Your business strategy is what your company is going to do, while your business vision is
why your company is going to do it.
By communicating your business vision throughout your organisation you will create
greater impetus towards achieve key company objectives.
Business Plans
The first step in business planning and strategy is to clarify and reach consensus on your
business objectives. Once agreed, the business objectives can be converted into practical
plans.
Your business plans should cover the provision and application of resources plus the
measurement of performance. The business plans should also anticipate alternative
scenarios that could deflect the company from its chosen course and help your business to
be proactive, rather than reactive to events.
All too often, once written, business plans are consigned to the filing cabinet and seldom
see the light of day again. The business plan should, in fact, be a 'living' document that is
continually reviewed and updated. These plans are often required by banks, investors and
other sources of funding.

5. Business Process Improvement
When planning to improve your business processes you will need to start by reviewing
your core values.
This review may likely highlight the need to change your organisation from one being
based on a traditional departmental line, to one that is more customers’ focused.
Business process improvement adds value to your organisation by developing corporate
structures, processes and procedures that will support your organisations core values.
If these processes are implemented successfully it will create a culture which places
importance on quality and continuous improvement.
A key factor in process improvement is making sure that ICT systems are being used to
best advantage. Too often, companies are 'hamstrung' by outdated, inflexible or
inappropriate systems.
Consultation and Participation
Business process improvement will create change and this in turn requires consultation
and participation from all levels. For your new business processes to be successful it is vital
to consider the people at grass roots level as they often have much to contribute but their
views are seldom sought.
This tends to happen, because superiors often mistakenly perceive initiatives from
subordinates as threats to traditional, hierarchical organisations. However, it is worth
remembering that people will seldom resist their own ideas! Also, people do not like
working inefficiently and will naturally look for ways to improve their working practices.
By including peoples view at all levels you will likely identify the best possible processes for
your organisation, which in turn will be easier to implement.
Knowledge Management
Every organisation to some extent owes the smooth running of its operations to the
knowledge supplied and developed by its people.
With this in mind it makes sense that this business knowledge should be fostered and
shared throughout your organisation to ensure continued business continuity and success.
Challenges of Sharing Knowledge
Knowledge is power and people are often possessive about what they know. You may
have formal procedures in place, but the reality is that most companies rely on informal
practices and work-around that have grown up over time.
These practices often get the job completed faster and more effectively, but are known
only to the people doing the work meaning they can easily be lost. It's only when you lose
this key working knowledge that you realise how valuable it is.

6. Key Questions to Ask About Your Knowledge Management
Where does the knowledge lie in your business or organisation?
How well do you share knowledge? - "It's not what you know but what you share
that matters!"
If you do share knowledge, how do you organise it, store it and make it accessible?
How vulnerable are you to losing knowledge when people leave?
Are you using techniques to spot trends ahead of your competition?
Does your business or organisation embrace new ideas naturally and eagerly or are
people cautious and risk averse?
Business Continuity Planning
Business Continuity Planning is about recognising the risks to your business that is
constantly present and relate to your business's nature and conduct.
Business continuity planning benefits:
reduce risks to your business
improve your business survival ability
protect business viability
Montague Consult management consultants can help you to develop an effective and
integrated set of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans.
Key to Successful Business Continuity Planning:
Risk Analysis & Risk Reduction
Risk Analysis is a process of identifying potential risks, assessing their likely impact on the
business and defining the maximum downtimes for different circumstances that can be
sustained by the business.
Risk Reduction is a process of taking action to eliminate, reduce and mitigate business
risks, and recognising the residual risk that has to be carried by the Company (for which
the Disaster Recovery Plan is required).
Typical areas of risk include:
loss of key employees
failure of supply from key suppliers
breakdown of critical processes
loss of key markets
compliance failures
competitive threats
technological obsolescence
Recession a Business Opportunity
The idea that recession could actually be a business opportunity may seem strange, but it
is true. Successful companies know how to take advantage of a recession to take their
business to the next level.
So how do they do it?
They use recession periods to make their businesses stronger, more competitive and
ultimately more successful.

7. Ultimately to do this requires making big changes, which need to be carefully planned. This
is why many organisations choose to bring in expert independent help from a
management consultant.
For more information including expert help on how you can make this recession a business
opportunity for you contact us today!
Confidence - Key to Recovery
Recession and recovery have one thing in common: they are both driven by confidence, or
the lack of it. Confidence starts in the boardroom and permeates through organisations
into the wider economy.
Just by keeping positive you can build positive attitudes both internally and in the wider
business community.
A simple change like celebrating when your staff targets are met and new business won
can have a very positive effect on building staff morale. Plus by staying positive your
business will be more proactive and united, which is one of the first steps to your
successful and sustainable business future.
How well are you managing the Recession?
Recession periods can be a challenge, but by taking control and using the right business
strategies you can face the future with confidence.
Its important that you take a realistic look at where your business is today and get budget
and cash flow predictions in place to help you make the right plans for the future.
In addition there will be many areas of your business that need to be reviewed including
your sales and marketing, business finance, continuity planning and business processes.
Getting expert advice and support in these areas can be money well spent.
Business Disaster Recovery Planning
Business disasters by their nature can happen fast and take you by surprise so you the
need to make suitable disaster recovery and business continuity plans today!
You also want to ensure that all the potential risks are looked into in detail with expert
eyes to make sure no key areas are missed.
We can provide practical help and advice on business continuity and disaster recovery
planning to ensure your business is fully protected.
To find out more including a free half hour consultation, contact us today!
Why Do I Need Disaster Recovery Plans?
Sadly very few companies consider just how they will survive in the event of a disaster or
major crisis and this is why 90% of companies who suffer a major disaster without a
recovery plan eventually fail.
A good disaster recovery plan is much more than just keeping backups of important data.
It’s about have a realistic detailed disaster recovery strategy.

8. There are many types of business risk that companies face every day and anyone of these
could precipitate a major crisis. The following scenario is an example of how easily
business disasters can occur:
"9:00am Monday morning - many of your staff are already in the building getting ready to
settle into the working day.
Suddenly the fire alarm goes off!
Most of your staffs think it's a false alarm, but soon you start to smell smoke so you all begin
to move quickly outside.
A few people begin to panic & rush back inside to recover their belongings, while others run
to their cars and try to leave the car park. At the same time, late comers are trying to drive
in.
The emergency services arrive, but the entrance is jammed, so they have to wait while cars
are moved to let them in.
Meanwhile staff emerge from the building & collapse from the smoke. In the confusion no
one is sure whether anyone is still trapped inside.
You realise you have vital company information still inside the building, but The Fire Service
Incident Commander denies you access. It’s now 9:30am."
How you handle the first hour of a crisis like this can often determine the longer term
business implications so you can see having a recovery plan is vital.
Dispute Resolution
Business disputes and conflicts consume your time, energy and resources. They also divert
your attention away from your main activities and can be damaging to your business,
especially if legal action is involved.
The sooner a dispute can be resolved the better for everyone as this prevents the situation
from escalating.
We provide expert independent dispute advice and support, which is often the best and
fastest way for both parties to reach an amicable agreement.
To find out more including a free half hour consultation, contact us today!
Dispute beginnings
A work or business dispute often begin in a small way, but can escalate out of proportion
over time if left unresolved.
For example a behaviour or action by one party which is seen as unacceptable by another
party can develop into a more serious dispute. Staffs become entrenched in their opinions
and often look for additional behaviour or events to further justify their position
sometimes involving other staff in the dispute.

9. Why Do I Need Dispute Resolution Support?
The truth is that many disputes can be prevented or resolved quickly if the appropriate
action is implemented at an early stage. However, the correct action is not always taken
for a number of reasons:
A fear of conflict
Don't know how to communicate feelings
Don't know what action to take
Don't know how to take appropriate action
This is why having extra support to assist in resolving disputes makes good business sense.
Many disputes arise internally within businesses and organisations, but can also involve
third parties, particularly suppliers.
Relationships with suppliers can deteriorate slowly, over a period of time. One party steps
back a little, the other does the same. Over time, the gap grows to the point that neither
party is able to make that first step back towards the other.
The following is an example of how easily this can happen and what can be done to bring
parties back together and resolve the dispute:
"An IT company's relationship with their client had completely broken down during a major
new systems implementation.
The supplier had raised additional invoices for substantial sums on top of the contract price,
which the client objects to.
Montague Consult is then called in to help resolve the dispute.
After holding separate meetings with both parties we hired two rooms in a hotel and spent
a day of 'shuttle diplomacy', eventually resulting in the supplier cancelling all the invoices
and both parties leaving happy and reunited. "
Employee Motivation & Satisfaction
Your employees are a vital part of your business success. Motivated and committed staffs
make your business more productive and efficient.
Our management consultants provide practical help and advice on how to assess your
employee’s satisfaction and can recommend sensible changes to improve your business
for both you and your staff.
Employee Motivation
People work for social as well as economic needs
People need to feel trusted and valued
People need efficient working practices
People need to feel proud of the organisations for which they work.
All too often, employers are unaware of these basic needs and have problems motivating
their employees. By creating cultures that encourage employee initiative, individuality and
loyalty you can make your business more successful.

10. Employee Surveys - Keeping It Confidential
Obviously the best way to assess not only your employee’s satisfaction, but also their
motivational levels is to ask them. However, your employees may be reluctant to open up
to you, because they worry their honesty maybe misunderstood.
Our management consultants conducted a recent survey for one company, ensuring that
no one could be identified individually. The response to the survey was amazing - many
thoughtful and constructive suggestions were made as to how the company could improve
employee motivation.
As a result a 'breath of fresh air' has blown through the company, employees are much
happier and the company has become more successful as a direct result of the newfound
relationship between management and staff.
Transformational Leadership
Transforming your team and organisational performance is perhaps the most demanding
yet rewarding leadership challenge.
It requires leaders to be tenacious in pursuing outcomes and solutions whilst responding
effectively to day-to-day challenges.
Montague Consult Management Consultants have helped many organisations with
challenging management transformation programmes in the UK and Europe.
Transformational Leadership Benefits
organisations work more effectively
maximise your employees potential
improved company morale
greater business success
Effective Leadership - It's always personal.
Effective leadership is based on trust, faith and belief. It is what people experience
of you that matter - a way of being, doing and thinking that has the awesome
power to influence and inspire a deep level of personal commitment from those
you lead.
Montague Consult Management Consultants can help you and your leaders find
the personal courage to dig deep inside yourselves to access the core passions that
shape you style and presence, and express them with congruence and confidence -
to become truly inspirational.
We will teach you how to engage, connect, and communicate in ways that create
purposeful relationships and deliver consistently amazing results - especially when
times are challenging.
It's about people
Liberating your people to be great at what they do, passionate about execution,
and keen to produce results will be like moving your car up several gears. Your
business will accelerate and cover much greater distances and directions than you
ever imagined possible.
To truly empower people means to help them access the self-assurance that comes
from clarity and the confidence to act on it. Only when they are emotionally and

11. psychologically capable of accepting additional responsibility, are they truly
empowered and more importantly, only then will you be able to devolve important
decisions and actions with confidence.
We help you make this a lasting reality in your business - a cultural norm so hard to
emulate that it sets you apart from the competition.
How Do You Keep Your Best Customers?
Customer satisfaction is no guarantee of loyalty. Research shows that satisfied customers
are just as likely as dissatisfied customers are to shop around.
The Internet has empowered the consumer in ways never previously imagined. Control
over corporate brands is slipping increasingly into the hands of the consumer.
Loyalty in itself is a passive relationship. You cannot rely on having a long-term relationship
with loyal customers unless you manage that relationship – a process called ‘Customer
Engagement’.
Customer Engagement Survey Tool
Search on Google for ‘customer engagement’ and you will find over six million references.
What do you do next!?
The first thing you could do is to measure how well you are doing currently. We have
developed a short and highly effective customer survey tool that does just that and, in
addition, provides you with feedback from customers that will:
Confirm what your company or organisation does well suggest changes and improvements
for being even more successful Identify issues that you need to deal with in the short-term.
Happy Customers Equal More Sales
Keeping your customers happy can be harder than you think. Customer expectations
change overtime.
Unhappy customers result in:
lost sales
negative company image
lost referrals
Happy customers result in:
repeat sales
positive company image
high quality customer referrals
So how do your customers expect from you?

12. Customer Expectations and Business Success
Business success is linked closely with your customers having a positive perception of your
company, rather than from what you actually deliver!
Ask yourself:
How often do I follow up with clients or customers to check how well their
expectations are being met?
How am I ensuring that my customers are our best advocates?
Meeting your customer expectations is a challenge; at the start they may not be fully
explicit. Further, they are likely to change subtly during over time and they will certainly be
at their highest upon the completion of a project, delivery or upon installation.
The most vulnerable time in your relationship with your customers is that first 6 months
after the project has been completed or the sale made.
How to Maintain Successful Customer Relationships
The key to maintaining successful customer relationships is being sure that you keep
tuned in to your customers evolving perceptions of the value you have delivered. By doing
so, you will identify any issues at an early stage, before they become real problems.
Customers are often more forthcoming to an independent person than to their suppliers,
so using a third party to measure your customer perceptions often produces more
genuine results.
By taking an active interest in your customers they often see this as a positive expression
of your long-term commitment to them.
Montague Consult Management Consultants have a powerful online survey tool that we
use to obtain customer feedback on a regular basis.
Why You Need a Great Customer Value Proposition
You may have outstanding product/services, but unless you can effectively communicate
their value to your customers you will never get the sales you truly deserve.
The solution - You need a winning customer value proposition!
A great customer value proposition shows the true benefits of your products/services
quickly and effectively. Giving customers a real incentive to choose you over and above
your competitors.
Montague Consult experienced marketing consultants can help you create a winning value
proposition plus provide additional marketing and sales support.
What is a Customer Value Proposition
Your customer value proposition is a brief summary of the benefits your customers should
expect from your products/services.

13. Which of the following value propositions would you be most likely to respond to?:
1. "We offer one-stop shopping. Our company has a full range of products to meet your
every need."
2. "After using our product, one well-known retailer saw a 54% increase in sales
conversions and a 25% increase in online sales.
Our clients typically see 40% improvement in areas such as profit margins, rates, and
cost savings."
The second proposition is much more informative and compelling and will as a result
produce more sales than the first. So how can you create a similar value proposition for
your business?
Start Creating a Customer Value Proposition
The first place to start creating your proposition is by getting accurate and detailed
information about the real value of your business products/services. Existing customer are
a real gold mine of information in this area.
Your existing customers are a very valuable resource not only can they provide important
feedback on your products/services they are also fantastic lead generators.
By talking with existing customers you can create a tailored list of benefits that can be
used to create your value proposition plus you can also enhance your relationship with
your customers.
However, many businesses lack the time, resources and skills needed to not only
successfully research their product/service benefits, but also combine the results into
winning value propositions.
This is where an experienced marketing consultant can help. By hiring an expert
independent marketing consultant you can focus on your core business needs, while your
consultant creates winning customer value propositions to increase sales. Plus you will
also have access to the many years of marketing experience courtesy of your consultant,
which could transform your sales and marketing.

14. To find out more about how Montague
Consult can assist you or to learn how to
appoint us and to obtain a free no obligation
quotation, please contact us by:
Telephone: +44 (0)7413 761695
OR