The Big Blue
next PRACTICE
Our aspirations
Quartz+Co
THE BIG BLUE, 2012 edition
quartz+co
Quartz+Co was founded in 2002 based on an unbreakable desire to build a first-tier management consulting company aligned with the needs of today’s capable organisations and the constantly changing market and industry dynamics characterising the globalised world of business. Unlike the well-known methodology-driven, output-based consulting model, we believe in a new approach to professional management consulting. An approach which is centred on the ability to solve complex problems faster and with the flexibility required by executive decision makers to tackle and address their ever-changing priorities in a turbulent world. An approach less dependent on standard methodologies and more focused on listening and co-creating as well as tailored approaches to build stronger and more capable client organisations. Quartz+Co is our name. Quartz is also a mineral which has the following characteristics: Quartz can be found WORLDWIDE, is known for CLARITY, ALIGNMENT and PRECISION, and furthermore it has a natural ability to accumulate a substantial electrical charge when subjected to pressure. Hence, all places where quartz is put under pressure, it is by definition a NATURAL POWER CENTRE, a source of ENERGY.
DENMARK Ryesgade 3A 2200 Copenhagen T: +45 33 17 00 00
Sweden Birger Jarlsgatan 7 111 45 Stockholm T: +46 (0)8 614 19 00
Norway Wergelandsveien 21 0167 Oslo T: +47 22 59 36 00
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Quartz+Co
NEXT PRACTICE NEXT PRACTICE is our declaration of intentions and principles for Quartz+Co. ASPIRATION VALUES AND BELIEFS POSITIONING CLIENT PROPOSITION PEOPLE PROPOSITION
NEXT PRACTICE outlines our aspiration, the yardsticks and proposition of our company, all of which are in alignment with the needs of top management and appeals to like-minded talented business professionals. We call it “Next Practice Consulting”. NEXT PRACTICE is our source of inspiration and our reason for being. It outlines what we want to become and what should be our key identifier. In one sense, “Next” Practice is like tomorrow: it is never here. It is what we strive for, dream about and make our best efforts to achieve. NEXT PRACTICE outlines the inner convictions, values and beliefs of our civilisation, which will ultimately be what distinguish and unite us in the quest for realising our aspiration. These beliefs, in turn, shape our core value proposition – to clients and to people – and can be translated into principles guiding the way we lead, operate and engage. For further illumination of our values and beliefs, please refer to MAGNETISM – our values section of this book.
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ASPIRATION
TWO VALUES AND SIX BELIEFS
1. To build a first-tier, Nordic original in the management consulting industry 2. To influence the top-management agenda and deliver exceptional impact 3. To develop strong relationships with intriguing clients on a global basis
MAGNETISM AT A GLANCE
1. TO BUILD A FIRST-TIER, NORDIC ORIGINAL We aspire to build a Nordic original in the management consulting industry. A company that rests on Nordic values, but extends beyond Nordic borders and eventually operates in all power centres of the world.
3. TO DEVELOP STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH INTRIGUING CLIENTS We see Results and Relationships as two equally valuable sides of the same coin – and as such, Relationships are a prerequisite for Results and vice versa.
Our core values are RESULTS and RELATIONSHIPS. “Results” as in the true impact we deliver with our clients and in Quartz+Co. “Relationships” as in the profound humanism in our approach to clients and our team.
A first-tier and global management consulting company recognised for creating sustainable improvements in overall business performance by acting flexibly in multiple settings and combining complementary skills across strategy, operations, commercial impact, transactions and transformation, always leaving behind memorable and iconic consulting experiences.
We aspire to deliver Results and build Relationships in all engagements with our clients as well as in Quartz+Co.
We see Results and Relationships as interdependent and interwoven. They create meaning, shape our culture and define the character of our company. The six beliefs are drivers behind the values and as such guide our behaviour:
2. TO INFLUENCE AND EXECUTE THE TOPMANAGEMENT AGENDA We aspire to work with clients on their most intriguing and mission-critical business issues. We influence the top-management agenda and use our experience and insight to advise and to help execute and deliver exceptional impact in situations ranging from strategic to transformational projects.
We will build a lasting company based on lasting Relationships, and we will invest in a partnership to make it sustainable or mutually beneficial.
1. EXCELLENCE Excellence is delivering second-to-none CONTENT, exceeding expectations in STYLE, shape and form as well as engaging with true PASSION. 2. DIVERSITY Diversity is the variation we represent collectively across GENDER, PROFILES and PERSONALITIES. Diversity produces creativity.
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3. CIVILISATION Civilisation encompasses our appreciative INTERACTION with each other, the high integrity and individual ACCOUNTABILITY on a daily basis, and the GENEROSITY we show for greater purposes than the individual short-term benefit. 4. FOLLOWERSHIP Followership is earned from personal LEADERSHIP, superior SKILLS and the ability to transfer those as well as keeping AUTHENTICITY in all. 5. FLEXIBILITY We always tailor our teams to the situation and needs based on MATCHMAKING in skills and profiles. Internally we offer INDIVIDUALISED DEVELOPMENT matching different people needs and priorities. The way we organise ourselves ensures true AGILITY. 6. ICONICITY Iconicity is a self-invented word hinting at our ability to deliver iconic moments externally as well as internally. It takes various combinations of MAGNITUDE, COURAGE and COOLNESS when we engage.
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POSITIONING STRATECUTION FLEXIBILITY We believe CHANGE = Clear Direction x Solid Buy-in x Transferred Capabilities. How do we deliver exceptional impact? By two unique offers:
STRATECUTION – dual focus on strategy and execution
FLEXIBILITY – connecting skills and profiles for co-creation
We provide direction through data-driven analysis and expert insight.
We tailor teams with the right skills and profiles dynamically to the client and the situation; thus striving for the highest degree of matchmaking.
We emphasise co-creation and focus on buy-in as well as building stronger and more capable client organisations. We always apply our mindset of delivering success as opposed to successful delivery.
We mobilise the energy and capacity of the clients’ organisations through joint problem-solving.
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CLIENT PROPOSITION First-tier consulting skills – insight and experience delivered with integrity Flexible approach – matching team and skill configuration to client needs People centrism – mobilising client organisations’ energy and capacity
Serving capable and demanding clients requires us to be as insightful, dedicated and effective as the best.
memorable consulting experiences, avoid consulting fatigue, and always adhere to the top-management agenda.
FIRST-TIER CONSULTING SKILLS It challenges us to utilise exceptional skills across our services, exploit our unique industry insight, maintain our active senior involvement and uphold the integrity to do what we believe is right. This, coupled with tailored implementation approaches, allows us to address critical business issues with speed and rigour.
PEOPLE CENTRISM We always seek to mobilise the energy in the client organisation and its capacity within joint problem-solving, and we work pragmatically to deliver success as opposed to working output-based to achieve successful delivery.
We aim to be on par with or above the best on insight and knowledge, but even better on energy and form. FLEXIBLE APPROACH We do not have one engagement model – we configure client teams to match client issues and personal competences and profiles. Furthermore, we staff client teams real-time. When our client’s needs change or projects change scope, we change configuration. We follow through to execution and think implementation from day one in any engagement. We strive to leave behind
We acknowledge that to deliver change, people need to change. And we recognise that strategic and organisational transformation is a consequence of personal transformation. Our success is measured by our ability to help other people succeed. To help people gain new insight, to better understand an imperfect world and to think creatively about their own situation. Flexibility and exceptional client interaction skills – both intellectually and socially – are at the core of our client proposition.
PRINCIPLES GUIDING THE WAY WE ENGAGE WE TARGET INTRIGUING CLIENTS WITH MISSION-CRITICAL ISSUES We engage with intriguing clients and relations on mission-critical business issues where we are able to make a difference and deliver solid ROI. WE CONFIGURE TEAMS TO MATCH THE CLIENT SITUATION We do not have a single engagement model, but different models to match diverse and specific client needs dynamically. Our staffing team is our “matchmaking office” – which plays a key role in ensuring a perfect match between client needs, personal development needs and engagement economics. WE ADOPT A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMSOLVING APPROACHES We have black belts in solving problems and in managing engagements. We use our complementary skills (industry/services) and diverse personalities to address the right business issues. WE CREATE MEMORABLE CONSULTING EXPERIENCES All client teams are challenged to build lasting Relationships while delivering Results – we always take the high road, leaving behind a memorable, positive consulting experience to avoid consulting fatigue and to pave the way for long-term Relationships.
WE THINK IMPLEMENTATION FROM DAY ONE We work pragmatically to deliver success and to mobilise our clients’ organisations’ energy and capacity. We creatively interact with clients (e.g. in workshop settings and joint problem-solving sessions) to anchor new insight, new methodologies and to make the most of the client capabilities to prepare for implementation. WE ADHERE TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTEGRITY We never compromise our recommendations for commercial and political reasons, but seek to always provide an objective, straight answer to the issue at hand. We always maintain our integrity. WE HAVE THE BEST IN-HOUSE TEAMS Our In-house Teams (Finance, House Support, Business Intelligence, Communications & Marketing and People Team) bring value to the civilisation by understanding our business, taking part in the problem-solving, providing meaningful solutions and delivering quality services on time.
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PEOPLE PROPOSITION Leadership through followership creating leadership or development opportunities for others as early as possible Individualised career development providing accelerated learning and career ownership Opportunity to influence offering room to create, build and be entrepreneurs
We do not see our colleagues as “resources” to be utilised, but as individuals or citizens to support and develop. LEADERSHIP THROUGH FOLLOWERSHIP We base our leadership philosophy on the principle of followership. No followership – no right to lead. Followership implies creating opportunities for others to accelerate professsional and personal growth. Our focus on followership ensures exposure to client and company issues earlier than the industry norm. Followership challenges everybody to lead by example. Followership is true for every function – from partner to consultant to support. INDIVIDUALISED CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND OWNERSHIP We believe there is not only one but several ways forward as a consultant and trusted advisor or a member of the In-house Teams in Quartz+Co. We provide the environment for building on individual strengths and unlocking talent, and we expect a shared sense of responsibility to deliver our aspirations, values and beliefs. Quartz+Co is a melting pot of unique skills and capabilities. Deploying diverse skill sets in different and ever-changing team
configurations – internally and externally – adds tremendous value to our clients and to the development of our company. It also accelerates the learning curve and offers early involvement in building our company. OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE We offer the opportunity to influence your own situation and the development of Quartz+Co. In fact, we expect all compañeros to take ownership of their career by actively pursuing opportunities that are right for their development and for the company. Also, we expect that you engage in defining what the right work-life balance is for you – to grow as a professional and as an individual. Our commitment to career ownership and influence holds true, as long as the client impact and contribution to our civilisation are in alignment with the requirements at any given level in the consultant’s career model or In-house Teams evaluation criteria. It is not a contractual obligation, it is a psychological contract. It is not only a leadership task. It is an individual obligation. We will harness the power of complementarity in our civilisation through generosity and respect for individual value contributions and work-life balance preferences in a high performance environment.
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PRINCIPLES GUIDING THE WAY WE DEVELOP PEOPLE WE OFFER INDIVIDUALISED WAYS TO SUCCEED Career development and progression will always be evaluated based on individual contribution to client value creation and to building our civilisation. We recognise that there is an infinite number of ways to be a great member of the civilisation in order to ensure that consulting becomes more than a stepping stone. WE SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH QUARTZBACKS All consultants enjoy enrolment in our unique QuartzBack programme, which provides “well-matched” leadership support to progress their career based on individual development assessment. The QuartzBack will support the consultant and provide tools and methods for evaluating and pursuing career opportunities and personal development goals.
Throughout the QuartzBack programme the consultants will receive information, communication, guidelines and help to become a strong “navigator” in our civilisation based on self-understanding and self-reflection. WE EMBRACE A FEEDBACK CULTURE Ongoing, direct, appreciative and constructive feedback is an integral part of everything we do for high performance. We all provide and receive feedback on projects, in ongoing discussions with the QuartzBack, in half-year progress reviews, through upwards feedback, team barometers, etc. WE OFFER ACADEMY FOR ALL We invest massively in building a world-class academy to accelerate learning. Academy is our number one priority for all consultants, partners and In-house Teams. We offer unparalleled on-the-job as well as classroom training through our campus, open courses and role-specific training modules.
WE ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUAL WORKLIFE BALANCE High performance requires an effort – and that effort is linked to different types of projects and each person’s situation. We will always have projects with different intensity levels reflecting the type and effort required. We strive to match projects with the personal objectives, situation and needs based on personal dialogues. And we strive to let every person experience projects with different intensity levels. We monitor the workload, and we use low intensity periods to balance the overall workload. Work-life balance will be different from person to person and time to time. It is a joint effort for each person and Quartz+Co to ensure the right personal work-life balance.
WE PRIORITISE INSIGHT-SHARING AND CULTURAL MANIFESTATIONS We prioritise resources to accelerate professional development through the Quartz+Co Academy and beyond. We use every opportunity during cultural manifestations (company days, monthly meetings, etc.) to share insights and educate each other as part of building our culture – adopting learning beyond the classroom by interacting and by learning while shaping our culture.
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CHANGE
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CLEAR DIRECTION x SOLID BUY-IN x TRANSFERRED CAPABILITIES