Consulting Process
Exemplary Process Outline
Our approach follows a five-step process: consult, design, deliver, sustain, and measure. While these core principles guide our work, we tailor each process for the solution to meet specific organizational needs.
Custom Solutions
Exemplary Process for Learning & Development
For instance, when developing a Learning and Development program, we first assess your unique requirements, then design and implement personalized training experiences. We provide ongoing support and finally evaluate the impact, ensuring your L&D investment delivers measurable results.
What An Example Process for L&D Solutions Looks Like
Our approach follows a five-step process: consult, design, deliver, sustain, and measure. While these core principles guide our work, we tailor each process for the solution to meet specific organizational needs.
Recognizing that not every challenge requires a Learning & Development solution, our process remains flexible and adaptable. This approach demonstrates our commitment to thorough, client-focused work, allowing us to craft the most effective strategies for each unique situation, regardless of whether the outcome involves L&D or other organizational interventions.
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We kick off the process with an in-depth discovery phase, meeting with your key stakeholders and subject matter experts, either on-site or virtually. Our design team facilitates collaborative sessions to deeply understand your organization's unique needs, challenges, and goals.
These meetings typically involve but are not limited to:
- Project chartering and process mapping with the core project team
- Content and workflow discussions with teams serving different client segments
- Culture and change management considerations
By engaging representatives across relevant business lines, including sales/distribution heads, managers, training professionals, and technical experts, we ensure a comprehensive understanding of your requirements.
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With a deep understanding of your needs from the Discovery phase, our design team gets to work building out a comprehensive, tailored solution. Working remotely and collaborating through routine project meetings, we develop an initial set of core programs aligned to your key objectives.
Typical deliverables may include but are not limited to:
- Leader guides
- Participant guides
- Presentation materials
- Job aids and tools
- Custom eLearning
Our design process follows a standard development review cycle to ensure we incorporate your feedback at every stage:
- Alpha Review: Initial draft outlines, core content, and concept presentations
- Beta Review: Updated materials with graphics and presentation-ready formats, typically used for piloting
- Final Approval: Post-pilot revisions and finalization based on feedback
Throughout the design phase, we iterate based on your input, refining the solutions until they meet your standards and position your teams for success. Estimated timelines are project-specific.
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With the designed solutions approved, our team shifts into the delivery phase. We work with you to plan and execute a series of pilot programs, allowing your team to experience the training firsthand and provide real-time feedback. Skill practice is key, and our programs focus on more than knowledge, but ensuring professionals can practice in classrooms or online.
Typical pilot programs may include but are not limited to:
- Role-specific training for different client segments (e.g., Private and Commercial)
- Manager and coaching workshops
- Train-the-trainer sessions to equip your internal facilitators
Onsite or virtual delivery is tailored to your preferences. Throughout the pilot, we facilitate daily review sessions to gather feedback while the experience is fresh. Our team diligently documents learnings and recommendations, making rapid iterations to refine the programs. After incorporating pilot feedback, we present the final materials for your signoff, ensuring they meet your expectations and are ready for rollout.
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We understand that training is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to driving lasting organizational change. To ensure your investment in learning translates into long-term impact, we provide ongoing support through three key avenues:
- Organizational Change Management: We leverage proven change models (e.g., ADKAR) to guide your organization through the adoption and reinforcement of new behaviors and mindsets. Our team works with your leaders to develop communication plans, coaching strategies, and performance support tools that embed the learning into daily operations.
- Collaborative Digital Learning: To reinforce the skills and knowledge gained in the classroom, we design and deliver team-based digital learning experiences. Participants from different business lines collaborate virtually to solve real-world client cases, fostering cross-functional partnerships and ensuring the training sticks.
- Preparing Leaders To “Burn In” Learning: We know that more than anything, employees look to their immediate managers for guidance. Preparing managers to coach, diagnose and improve performance, and lead colleagues through change is perhaps the most critical step in any successful initiative.
By combining strategic change management with immersive, social learning journeys, we help you cultivate a culture of continuous growth and teamwork. The sustainment phase is an ongoing effort, typically spanning 6-12 months post-training.
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Measuring the impact of learning initiatives is critical for demonstrating ROI and identifying areas for continuous improvement. As your strategic partner, we collaborate with you to design and implement a comprehensive evaluation plan, focusing on four key levels:
- Reaction: We gather feedback on learners' initial responses to the training, including satisfaction, relevance, and engagement. This helps us understand the overall reception and identify quick wins for enhancement.
- Knowledge: Through pre- and post-assessments, we measure the extent to which learners have acquired the intended knowledge and skills. This level of evaluation helps us gauge the effectiveness of the content and delivery.
- Behavioral: We work with your managers and coaches to assess how well learners are applying their new skills on the job. This measure is critical for understanding the training's impact on performance and business outcomes.
- Results: Cannon’s clients make strategic investments in training because there are performance metrics that must be achieved. This is why we align training objectives with the desired performance outcomes so that training and business unit objectives are met.
Our team analyzes the evaluation data, uncovering insights and trends. We present our findings and recommendations to your stakeholders, highlighting opportunities for program refinement and further customization across different business lines. Measurement is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. We partner with you to implement a continuous improvement cycle, ensuring your learning initiatives remain aligned with your evolving needs and drive measurable results.
By following this five-step process - Discovery, Design, Delivery, Sustainment, and Measurement - we create bespoke learning solutions that are tailored to your unique context, drive meaningful change, and deliver lasting impact for your organization.