How to Determine a Client's Priorities & Constraint Alternatives

by Wanda Thibodeaux

When businesses look to improve their operations, they often call in consultants. However, these consultants can do very little to help their clients if they cannot identify what the priorities of the client are. They also need to figure out what alternatives are available to the client. These alternatives allow the client to meet their goals and objectives under different constraints that either are present or which might develop. To figure out priorities and constraint alternatives, consultants have to gather and analyze as much data about the company and the industry as possible.


Talk to the client. Ask him what his goals and objectives are, as well as what tasks are related to those goals and objectives. Make a list of those goals and objectives and have the client work with you to put them in order from highest to lowest priority.


Review professional journals, your client's and his competitors' websites, and company documentation such as operations policy and procedures manuals to figure out what materials and resources are necessary to complete the tasks related to the identified goals and objectives. Contact vendors to determine current costs, comparing cost information to the client's current budget.


Construct a consumer survey that identifies the products and services people purchase most. The survey also should inquire about what the consumer would like to see and how they perceive the company.


Construct a survey that clarifies how the client currently is operating. The purpose of this survey is to informally audit the employees and find out how they feel and what the client could improve.


Distribute your surveys to consumers and the client's employees. Analyze the results. You may find that the client's current priorities, goals and objectives do not match what employees and consumers say they want or is needed. You must address this gap immediately with the client, as it means the client is out of touch with the industry, the general market and its workforce.


Conduct market research to identify how other companies meet the client's identified goals and objectives -- this can include going to industry events. Your research may show some standard industry approaches, but it also should show you what innovations companies are implementing and what your client could try instead.


Create a tree diagram for the client based on your discussions, survey results, documentation review and market research. The diagram should have the company vision as the top point. Under this should be the individual objectives and goals. Under each objectives and goals, put each item the client could try, along with a very brief summary of costs and necessary resources.


Meet with the client and analyze the contents of the tree diagram in different ways. For instance, if the client wants to save money, point out the cheapest alternatives available for each priority. If the client wants to speed up production and service, highlight the options that will give the biggest yield in the shortest amount of time, even if those options are more expensive. Discuss how the priorities and alternatives connect. For example, increasing inventory can boost your client's ability to produce, but it can mean paying higher income taxes and change how the client budgets.

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