by Jan Malasek | Apr 6, 2020 | Uncategorized
This might be the first time that some of us work remotely. Sure, there are those occasional Fridays when remote work happened, but this is very different. A lot of us are forced to deliver in much more challenging conditions. Being ready and being effective remotely is important. As someone who has worked virtually since starting OnDemand Resources, and someone who recently prepped several consultants starting new roles at new clients virtually, I want to offer a few thoughts that you might find helpful, especially if this is the first time doing it, and especially for new clients – it is very important to start strong and make a great first impression. Make sure that you are available at all times during work hours – be very quick responding to emails, and, in case you miss a phone call from someone at the client, return it/respond very quickly – you want to create a sense that you are 110% engaged despite the fact that you are not on site. This is especially important if you are new to the team, and don’t have existing relationships to draw upon.Be proactive in reaching out and introducing yourself to members of the client team, and key stakeholders. This means to initially build a list of people that are key to your projects – proactively use your sponsor and others on the team to help you. If you need additional help, use other consultants on the same project to help you navigate and get a sense of client’s culture, you are in this together.Create a dedicated work space – as much as you...
by Jan Malasek | Apr 6, 2020 | Uncategorized
These are truly extraordinary times. Every industry and every segment of society is being impacted like never before, and navigating this crisis will require extraordinary leadership, execution and support. In our daily calls with clients, we hear first about their focus on keeping everyone in their organizations safe and healthy, but they have concerns about mitigating the impact of the crisis and planning for recovery. The concerns most frequently shared can be grouped into three categories: Business ContinuitySupply Chain Risk MitigationCash Flow and Fast Procurement Savings Business continuity requires having the right team in place – on location, and virtually – to execute critical efforts, and maintain essential functions and services. But it also calls for unique skills needed during this crisis. Supply chain risk mitigation as a strategic imperative has never been more important than today. As with any crisis, this challenging time provides an opportunity to identify problem areas and develop plans and processes to mitigate them in the short term while planning for new paradigms in the mid- to long-term to reduce the impact of future disruptions. Fast procurement savings will ensure that the business will continue to perform well, cash flow will be managed, and sacrifices will be shared across the value chain. Companies and their suppliers will share common interest in making business work as everyone recovers; however, capturing savings quickly in this environment will require deep expertise in key procurement categories, and strong ability to execute. Since our start in 2003, we have worked with over 165 companies and organizations and help to deliver over 600 critical initiatives. Our business model is based...
