« SERVICES
Consulting Roles
Most clients seek WCC assistance because they need specific expertise not available within their organization, have a temporary need for additional specialized personnel, or require an independent viewpoint. In response, WCC can play a variety of roles:
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Project Manager: The selection of a good project manager is a critical factor for success. Clients turn to the WCC to identify consultants who have experience in managing the scale and complexities of the issues involved. Prior to contracting, WCC and the client identify the project manager’s functions and the process for the eventual transition of project management responsibility to client staff.
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Project Facilitator: Some clients have a project manager, but this individual may lack the required expertise or need help in coordinating the project’s elements. Using the Western Cooperative’s network of members and others to identify subject matter experts, the WCC can facilitate the completion of the desired project.
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Workshop Leader: Clients often need a skilled workshop leader to facilitate brainstorming, planning, or training sessions for stakeholders or project participants. By using a WCC consultant with knowledge about what others are doing in distance learning, participants often glean more from the experience.
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Advisor: Projects often start out small, as an added responsibility for staff. Soon they develop a life of their own and drain staff time. Clients who find themselves in this predicament need help planning, organizing, analyzing, and evaluating new project tasks.
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Researcher: Western Cooperative Consulting can summarize research relating to the client’s interests or conduct new research on a variety of topics.
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Evaluator: Clients often desire or are required to have an outside evaluator for a project or program.
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Strategic Planner: Sometimes being too close to a task makes seeing the big picture difficult and an independent perspective can speed progress and improve the chances of success.
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Implementation Expert: Knowing what you want to do is the first step in any project; knowing how you want to accomplish it is next. WCC consultants help clients identify the options and evaluate the advantages, disadvantages, and costs associated with each phase of a project.
