Reverse Engineering Consulting

By S.Suren:

The term reverse engineering is normally something you would come across in the mechanical or industrial engineering field, where object are dismantled into pieces and then put together again in a manner that increases their operational efficiently etc. Well when it comes to consulting, we as consultant’s first need to understand the customers end requirements, emphasizing on the word “end”.

It’s normally the case that over anxiety and enthusiasm leads to the consultant jumping into conclusions and proposing solutions even before the exact end requirements of the clients have been identified. Its not actually the consultants fault, it’s just that he/she wants to make an impression and give the best to the clients, that they are looking to make things happen before actually identifying the base of the client’s needs.

This reminds of the hysterical email with the different sequence of pictures showing that the customer’s requirement was for a simple tire swing hanging from a tree, when the consultant proposed a solution that was a half constructed roller coaster.

Anyway coming back to reverse engineering consulting, it’s the method in which as a consultant you would look at the final outcome the client needs and then begin to work backwards to define and design the necessary processes and practices to be set up and practiced in the business operations.

Looking at it from an ERP Consultants point of view, I would first recommend that you collect the final reports that would be generated from a particular process and then begin working backwards using this report as a base in identifying all the processes throughout the operations involved. This method works very well with MIS reports set as the base. Also remember not to get carried away in designing processes and methods which would again be generating the exact same report information, but try to give them something new, make the leading processes more efficient, take into account exemptions to the process followed etc.

Generally the thinking is that being an ERP Consultant, it’s assumed that what we can deliver rests in what the system has to provide, but if you have the domain experience feel free to express your thoughts on possible best practices to the irreplaceable manual activities that are performed around a system, after all no system is good enough to completely automate all operations of a business, though some managers expect them to, if this were the case, there wouldn’t be those innovative companies that have changed the way we do things. Most importantly remember no system can ever replace the desire and potential of an enthusiastic person.

There are more areas in the consulting field where we could practice this technique of reverse engineering style consulting, which of course is easier said than done, but it’s up to you!! I shall post more of these in the future.

Hope you found this article informative and interesting. Feel free to send in your comments and suggestions to ssurenlk@msn.com.

Have a nice day!!!