FORT LEAVENWORTH, KS--When large corporations need expertise on specific topics that may not be resident in their organizations, they bring in a consultant to provide professional advice. But for an organization as big as the United States Army, many are realizing chances are good somewhere in the Army there is an expert who can be leveraged in the same way a corporation leverages an outside consultant.
The Army University's Army Management Staff College, the providers of the Army's premier leader development experience for the Army civilian corps, have found a way to cross-level expertise into other organizations throughout the Army by creating the AMSC Consultation Program.
Organizations requesting specific expertise resident within AMSC become the "client" and must be able to articulate the goals and expectations that they want to achieve through the consultation process and the type of consultation that will meet their needs. For instance, a consultation may take place entirely online, or by video teleconference rather than onsite and in person.
Once the client identifies goals and expectations, the AMSC consultant will then determine what type of consultation will meet the client needs. The three choices are: a less than one day presentation; a one-to-two day workshop; or a three- to five-day full consultation.
Organizations such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, & Instrumentation have tapped into the consultation program to bring outside perspective and expertise on topics ranging from leader development and influential communication to group dynamics and conflict resolution. In addition, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs reached out to AMSC to host and facilitate a Civilian Workforce Employee Engagement Training Conference in September 2015.
The South Pacific Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided to hold a symposium on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus to provide their senior leaders with tools aimed at sustaining their leadership qualities and improving command climate. The division reached out to the AMSC team to help develop the content and facilitate the discussion.
Nelson Cheng, Chief, Business Management Division for the South Pacific Division, said the collaboration between their organization and AMSC will help ensure the symposium intent of the command is met. In addition, after his participation at the September conference, Cheng believes an AMSC partnership provides greater opportunities for alignment with Department of Army focus.
"The intent of our symposium is to help improve relationships, internal and external communication, and encourage habits of lifelong learning," said Cheng. The support and expertise of the AMSC professional facilitators will help us to focus on the important issues and maximize our time to meet our commander's goals."
Consultations are not only beneficial to the requesting organizations, but also benefit AMSC and highlight the capabilities of the Army University, according to John Kotzman, a facilitator at the AMSC Civilian Basic Course and a resident expert for the consultant program.
"We benefit from providing consultations because the experience adds to the body of knowledge for AMSC curriculum, helps our faculty remain current and relevant, develops a more agile and versatile faculty, and provides a venue for our faculty to develop and design new curriculum," Kotzman said. "It also give us a venue to market the Army's Civilian Education System."
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