Rather than simply applying a set of pre-packaged consulting techniques, MSI's approach is first to work collaboratively with each client to identify needs. We then design customized solutions to meet those needs using a combination of techniques and services.

Our Primary Services are:

• Strategic Planning
  • Design and facilitation of strategic planning processes, including logic modeling and logical frameworks, stakeholder analysis, SWOT analysis, and gap analysis.
  • Approaches emphasizing collaboration and organizational ownership.
  • Design and implementation of performance management systems and tools for measuring organizational and project goals and objectives.
  • Development and clarification of organizational mission, vision, and values.
  • Design and facilitation of focus groups and consultative processes to ensure customer input and stakeholder dialogue.
  • Facilitation of collaborative planning events and action-planning.
• Performance Management
  • Industry-recognized expertise in assisting organizations with the development of objectives, performance management plans, and performance measures.
  • Development and installation of performance monitoring systems, including data collection processes and Web-based information systems.
  • Design and facilitation of participatory approaches to performance management.
  • Assistance with implementation of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and OMB requirements for U.S. federal agencies.
  • Assistance with preparation for Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) assessments for U.S. federal agencies, addressing the organizations' systemic weaknesses, and targeting technical assistance to improve the organizations' effectiveness.
• Evaluation and Assessment
  • Recognized top evaluation course for government and international development organizations.
  • Evaluations for improving government and nonprofit programs through the use of a variety of techniques and methodologies, including desk studies, quasi-experimental methods, qualitative approaches, randomized design, rapid appraisals, and other methods.
  • Assessments to improve management and organizational effectiveness.
  • Design and execution of data collection efforts including focus groups and surveys.
  • For more information, please click here.
• Team Effectiveness and Team Building
  • Team building and team coaching to create high-performing executive, management, and work teams; development of team and teamwork skills.
  • Conflict management and resolution for teams in crisis.
  • Certified administrators in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, More apt Motivational Style Profile and other team-building tools.
• Change Management and Strategy Implementation
  • Assistance with the implementation of organizational improvement, change and strengthening efforts.
  • Leadership development, coaching and training to support change efforts.
  • Management assessments and problem solving of management/office issues.
  • Facilitation of retreats, team/office meetings and other decision-making events for management improvement.
• Capacity Building/Organizational Strengthening
  • Participatory assessments of organizational/institutional capacity.
  • Planning approaches for building organizational capacity and strengthening organizations.
  • Click here for more information on Institutional Development.
• Business Process Improvement and Organizational Analysis
  • Organizational needs assessment from problem identification to solutions.
  • Systematic surveys of organizational effectiveness and culture.
  • Organizational redesign and restructuring.
  • Assistance in improving key business processes and customer service, including business process improvement using Lean Enterprise methodology.
• Training
  • Customized training programs and courses across a range of areas tailored to client needs, including training of trainers/facilitators, leadership development, project/activity design and management, logical framework training, entrepreneurship development, strategic planning and performance management.
• Leadership Development and Coaching
  • Customized leadership workshops and training.
  • Tailored and confidential leadership coaching for individuals new to or in an ongoing management or executive role; leadership development plans.
  • Leadership assessment using a variety of individual and 360 assessment tools.
  • Development of coaching programs and delivery of relevant, tailored coaching for executives and managers.
• Knowledge Management
  • Design and implementation of online networking (internal and external) to support organizational change and reform efforts.
  • Design and implementation of online information-sharing and virtual workspace to reduce meeting time, increase coordination and facilitate intrapreneurial behavior.
• Workforce Planning
  • Workforce analysis and strategic workforce planning, including projecting workforce changes, future demands and interventions needed to build and sustain an organization's mission and goal.

MSI has played a prominent role as a core partner in the international joint venture on Managing for Development Results (MfDR) led by the World Bank and the OECD. MfDR's website provides information about how countries and agencies are working together in a global partnership on managing for development results. MSI co-developed the CAP-Scan methodology for assessing country capacity, and authored the Policy Brief on MfDR.

MSI President, Larry Cooley wrote the preface and served on the review committee for the World Bank’s recently published Sourcebook on Managing for Development Results: Emerging Good Practices in Managing for Development Results, which is now in wide circulation and can be viewed at www.mfdr.org. MSI provides ongoing technical support to the Africa Community of Practice on MfDR.