Page uploaded 2nd January 1997

It sometimes seems today as if the world is awash with consultants. Whatever the organisational sector one works in, there are consultants on hand ready to offer advice. Whilst sometimes they may tell managers little they did not know already, high quality consultancy is worth its weight in gold. It can provide organisations with a fresh and independent appraisal, assist in the critical process of managing change, even equip leadership with a new vision. Consultants are potentially very influential people, for good or ill.

If this is the case, it seems appropriate for Christians involved in consultancy (of whom there are growing numbers) to take careful stock of what they are doing. In what directions are they seeking to 'move' organisations? Is the advice they give modelled on the best in secular thinking alone, or does it convey distinctively Christian insights? If the latter, to what degree might the consultant be explicit about this? Are there popular fads which Christian consultants should avoid or which at least they should moderate by putting them in a broader context? Is the work they do part of spreading or building the kingdom of God?

The Ridley Hall Foundation is holding a two-day residential seminar for Christians in Consultancy, running from 7 00pm on Wednesday 12 March to 4.00pm on Friday 14 March. The aim of this is to help Christian consultants clarify their thinking on issues they address regularly in their work in particular, assessing the potential they have for influencing the way things are going in the business world. It will be of value to those who work for both large and small consultancies, as well as those operating independently.

The Ridley Hall Foundation has a proven record in running productive seminars for groups of 12 to 15 business people in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The seminars take place in the attractive setting of Ridley Hall Theological College. There is the opportunity to join in the regular worshipping life of the college for those who so wish. The Foundation's style is exploratory and participative, with each topic being introduced by an experienced speaker, leading to group discussion. A report on the seminar - summarising the key insights which emerge will be written by the Foundation's Director, Dr Richard Higginson, after the event. This will be circulated to all participants and, if appropriate, published in a suitable journal.

Programme

Wednesday 12 March

6.00pm - Registration

7 00pm - Dinner

8.00pm - The Rise of the Consultant - Mr Paul Batchelor, Executive Partner, Coopers & Lybrand Europe - An overview of the development of consultancy through its various stages from the increase in professional management and specialisation, through the growth of big consultancy firms, to the large numbers of independent consultants unleashed by today's changing patterns of work.

Thursday 13 March

7 50am - Breakfast

9.00am - Consultancy about Ethics - Mr. David J Murray, Management Consultant, Maine Consulting Services - Many organisations today are showing an increased ethical sensitivity. But they are often uncertain how to tackle difficult moral dilemmas or to raise standards of behaviour within their organisation. What are the challenges and possible pitfalls in providing consultancy about ethics?

11.15am - The Ethics of Consultancy - Professor Ian W. Jones, Consultant in Management Education; Visiting Professor of International Management, European Management School, Oxford - Distinct from consulting about ethics is the ethics of consultancy itself The job has its own peculiar pressures, which may create temptations in the areas of marketing one's services or undertaking dubious projects. What does it mean for consultants to act with integrity?

1.00pm - Lunch

2.15pm - Free Time

4.00pm - Promoting Christian Values - Mr Tim Richardson, Principal, ITS Training and Associates - Acting as consultants provides the opportunity to promote Christian values. However, these may need to be addressed in secular garb if organisations are to feel comfortable about accepting them. How overt or covert should Christians be, especially about the spiritual resources required to live up to lofty ideals?

6.00pm - College Communion

7 00pm - Dinner

8.00pm - Offering Consultancy to the Churches - Mr John Rice, Business Adviser; Former Organisation Development Executive, Rolls Royce Aerospace - Christians call on God's help but they are still apt to get themselves in a mess. Churches and other religious organisations are often as much in need of clarifying their aims and rethinking their policies as any other organisation. A growing number are looking to consultants for help in finding their way.

Friday 14 March

7 50am Breakfast

9.00 am - Review of Some Current Ideas - An assessment of two important concepts which have wielded much influence in the 1990s. What are their strengths and weaknesses? Do they have enduring value?

9.00am - The Learning Organisation - Mr Mike Clargo, Director, Tesseract Ltd

11.15am - Business Process Reengineering - Mr Irwin Bidgood, Consultant, Work Restructuring Ltd

2.15pm - Plenary Session - An Open Forum for participants to exchange and debate ideas arising in the seminar. Concluding thoughts from the Foundation Director, Dr Richard Higginson.

4.00pm - Tea and Depart