Which of the following is not a good reason to engage a strategic-planning consultant?
1) Consultant's experience with other organizations
2) participants free to focus on the discussion
3)Improved quality of participation
4) low price
5) "group think" avoided
low price
To determine which of the options is not a good reason to engage a strategic-planning consultant, we can evaluate each option and identify any potential issues.
1) Consultant's experience with other organizations: This is generally a good reason to engage a strategic-planning consultant. Their experience with similar organizations can provide valuable insights and help tailor the planning process to the specific needs of your organization. Therefore, this option is not the correct answer.
2) Participants free to focus on the discussion: A good strategic-planning consultant can facilitate discussions by managing the process, ensuring everyone's input is heard, and keeping the group on track. This option is generally considered an advantage of engaging a consultant, as it allows participants to fully engage without having to manage the facilitation themselves. Therefore, this option is not the correct answer.
3) Improved quality of participation: This is also often a benefit of utilizing a strategic-planning consultant. Their expertise helps improve the quality of participation by guiding discussions, challenging assumptions, and ensuring a well-rounded approach. Therefore, this option is not the correct answer.
4) Low price: In general, selecting a consultant based solely on a low price is not a good reason. Strategic planning is a critical process that requires specialized skills and expertise. Choosing a consultant solely based on cost may result in compromising quality or missing out on the value that a more experienced consultant could provide. Therefore, this option is a potential answer.
5) "Group think" avoided: This is another positive aspect of engaging a strategic-planning consultant. By bringing an external perspective and challenging conventional thinking, consultants can help mitigate groupthink and encourage diverse viewpoints. Therefore, this option is not the correct answer.
Based on the analysis above, the option that is not a good reason to engage a strategic-planning consultant is 4) low price.