No free trial engagement or demo.

vs.

Free trial engagement or demo that you have the option of using/buying if you like it.

Won’t rock the boat.

vs.

Will burn the ship if necessary.

The client pays for a partner to work on his project, but the job gets done by a junior associate.

vs.

The professional that you meet is personally responsible for delivering the results.

Willing to ‘rubber stamp’ an existing strategy or course of action that the CEO or project sponsor is trying to sell’ to his/her stakeholders.

vs.

Will always give an honest independent assessment of whether a premeditated strategy or course of action makes sense.

Aim to make project teams as large as possible, thereby artificially elevating the importance of the project (but also increasing costs).

vs.

Aim is to make project teams as small as possible, but get the right people around the table, thereby increasing productivity and decreasing costs.

Never speaks about the elephant in the room for fear of losing the client.

vs.

Either the elephant needs to leave the room or Alinea will go elephant-hunting elsewhere.

Uses MBA buzzwords and IT jargon to intimidate clients.

vs.

Uses everyday language to better understand our clients.

Firm works for the client.

vs.

Alinea works with the client.

Hold countless long meetings in create the illusion of progress.

vs.

Hold meetings only when it genuinely makes sense to do so.

Get more data.

vs.

Get the right data.

Large teams (that get less done).

vs.

Small teams (that get more done).

Project fees take precedence over core values.

vs.

Core values take precedence over money.

Solve simple problems with unnecessarily complex solutions.

vs.

Find the simplest possible solution to complex problems.

Follows a generic, cookie-cutter approach.

vs.

Follows a unique, tailored approach.

Client pays the firm before the firm has delivered any value.

vs.

Client only pays Alinea after Alinea has started adding value.

Overpromise, underdeliver.

vs.

Underpromise, overdeliver.

Most of the work gets done by junior consultants fresh out of university who have little or no experience in applying their knowledge to business challenges.

vs.

We combine theoretical knowledge with our real-world business experience to implement solutions that are not just theoretically sound, but also make practical sense.

No money-back guarantee, so the client assumes all the risk.

vs.

Risk-free, money back guarantee, so Alinea assumes most of the risk.

Contract termination date is set in stone, even if it’s not in the client’s best interest to continue with the relationship.

vs.

Contract ends the day that the client feels that Alinea is no longer adding value.

Lengthy decision-making and approval processes.

vs.

Quick decision-making and rapid turnaround.

Follow processes even when they don’t make sense.

vs.

Use processes as enablers only.

Propose theoretical solutions that aren’t always practical.

vs.

Implement practical solutions that may challenge conventional wisdom.

Client is billed for hours, regardless of results.

vs.

Client billed for results, not just hours.

Be indirect and diplomatic.

vs.

Be honest and forthright.

Willing to take on any project, provided that the financial reward makes it worthwhile.

vs.

Alinea only takes on a project if we believe we can add value and if there is a cultural fit.

Exorbitant fees are required to pay for lavish offices and giant overheads.

vs.

Low overheads translate into more competitive rates for our clients.

Will tell you what you’re not good at.

vs.

Will tell you what we’re not good at.

Keep the CEO / project sponsor happy at all costs and don’t challenge the status quo.

vs.

Do what’s best for the client at all costs, even if it means being unpopular and calling a spade a spade.

The client needs to sign a long-term commitment even before engaging with the firm.

vs.

No long-term commitment is required when engaging with Alinea.

The focus is on fixing your weaknesses.

vs.

The focus is on building on your strengths.