The most basic services are those involving impact studies. This is the basic process through which the ROI Methodology is used and there are a variety of opportunities to help clients in developing impact studies. The figure below shows the consultant’s role in developing impact studies, ranging from conducting the study (performing) to reviewing the completed study. This figure shows the relative relationship between the consulting effort and the client effort. In some cases, the consultant develops the project independently of the client and presents the impact study (performing). In other cases, there is a sharing of information along the way so the consultant is routinely communicating, providing feedback, and explaining the methodology to the client (sharing). In another arrangement, the consultant partners with a client so that they jointly conduct the study, each with respective duties and responsibilities (partnering). In another variation, the consultant coaches the person conducting the study, usually one-on- one, through different steps of the process (coaching). Finally, the consultant reviews the study after its completion by the client (reviewing).

Needs assessment studies are typical. A performance analysis is often needed to determine the cause of a
particular problem or the value of an opportunity and make sure that the problem or opportunity is aligned with the business. Additional analysis may be needed to determine the proper solution or solutions to improve the business measures.

Analysis also involves developing forecasts of specific projects. Both impact and ROI can be forecasted in advance of any development or implementation work.

Placing a monetary value on measures such as employee turnover, customer complaints, or customer satisfaction are possible projects as well.

Analysis also involves developing relationships between variables and developing predictive models.

A variety of advice categories are possible such as planning an ROI study. For example, a one-day meeting with a client to develop the evaluation plan is a very helpful consulting activity. In some cases, the consultant is coaching the client on a variety of issues. In other situations, the consultant reviews the progress, data, steps, and accountability issues to help the client bring additional accountability to solutions.

In the facilitation phase, the consultant is facilitating meetings where an evaluation strategy is developed, and ROI implementation is planned, or the ROI progress is reviewed. These are very important strategic-level meetings, often involving the top learning and development or HR person, depending upon the target audience. The outcome is an evaluation strategy plan to be implemented, an ROI implementation plan to be executed, or a progress report that is generated to serve as a measure of success with implementation.

Obviously, there are different fees connected to each of these different services, but all of them are offered to provide the client a complete range of possibilities. The ROI Institute philosophy is to transfer as much capability to the client as possible.