Perhaps you want to make big changes. Or maybe you just need to deal with that darn pebble. Either way, Dovetail Partners can help.

The projects described here are ones that Merv Manthey has personally led and delivered. Because the firm itself is quite new, some of the examples predate the formation of Dovetail Partners.

Very often, the distinct services below are combined with others on the list to achieve the integrated solutions that our clients need. Here's what we can do for you:

Business Planning 

We have helped professional firms, manufacturers and distributors with company-wide strategic and operational plans. Our work often results in planning templates and models that continue to add value long after we've left.

Other times, we have assisted with a particular function within the business - sales and marketing strategies, for example - or with actvities such as the facilitation of planning retreats (see our Resources Section to download a white paper on this topic). 

When all is said and done, business planning usually centers around one objective: growing revenue faster than costs. But a multitude of interdependent variables make up the equation. We can help you plan for and manage many of them.

Structure and Governance 

Ever been in a meeting full of litigation lawyers? No disrespect intended, but getting them to agree on something as simple as the lunch menu can be a big deal. They are bright, determined and don't like to concede. That's their strength. It's also their weakness. The challenge, especially in professional firms, is to give stakeholders their fair say while still moving forward. Among other things, appropriate structures and effective governance systems are needed to do so.

After considering their particular needs, we have designed operating structures and governance systems for clients like chartered accounting firms, ad agencies, manufacturers and distributors.

Privacy Compliance 

Alberta's government has passed new legislation that governs the collection, use and disclosure of personal information within the private sector. The new law is called PIPA (Personal Information Protection Act). British Columbia and Quebec also have their own Provincial acts. The Federal act (PIPEDA) applies elsewhere and to Federally regulated businesses.

Every private sector business, no matter what size, needs to take proactive steps to comply with the new privacy laws. If your business is not ready yet, you're not alone. Protecting your good reputation and avoiding legal liabilities are important. We have been helping others prepare. May we help you?

Look for additional information about privacy laws in our Resources section.

Comprehensive Audit 

Sometimes, these are also called Value for Money Audits or Operational Reviews. Put simply, the goal is to comprehensively assess how efficiently and effectively the organization is meeting its objectives.

This is a highly specialized service where an outside expert typically assists us. That expert is Dr. Brian Corbishley. A graduate of the London School of Economics & Political Science, he holds MBA and DBA degrees and is a Certified Management Consultant. Until recently Brian was an Assistant Auditor General of Alberta and before that, the Managing Partner of KPMG Consulting in Calgary.

HR Assessment 

Human Resource management is all about finding, growing and keeping the right people. How well are you doing?

Are you investing enough in your people? Are they happy in their jobs? Are you getting good value from the benefits and perquisites you pay for? Dovetail Partners has the tools and experience to help answers these questions, and more.

Performance Management 

Frankly, most performance management systems do not work very well. Quite often, that's because they are not systems at all. Instead, of emphasizing on-going processes such as goal-setting, coaching and monitoring, they center on specific events like the dreaded annual performance review.

The performance management systems that we've designed have brought clarity to expectations, balanced behaviors with results, and ensured that individuals have personal goals that fit with the company's. And they do work.

Selection, Recruitment and Succession Planning 

Beware of mediocrity. Hire great performers and you will start seeing the rewards soon. Hire poor ones and they will probably leave quickly, before causing too much damage. But hire people who are just good enough and then do nothing to raise them from mediocrity, and you will continue to pay the price forever.

Maybe you just need assistance defining the job responsibilities and selection criteria for internal candidates. Or perhaps you prefer a full-service, turnkey approach to filling a key requirement. At either extreme or in between, we're happy to help.

Since 1986 our founder has completed more than 150 recruiting and selection projects - ranging from Executive Searches for CEOs to the complete staffing of the first Canadian plant for a Japanese multinational and of a large telecom start-up. He also developed the Professional Practice Standards for one of Canada's largest search firms.

Compensation 

As Grocho Marx so rightly said, "money will never make you happy and happy will never make you money". Still, if you want to keep people you have to pay them fairly, compared to both internal and external norms. The key issues are what amount is fair and how should it be structured.

Compensation programs and policies can be aimed at whole companies, groups or specific individuals. Whether it's a new commission system for sales people or a better profit-sharing scheme for Partners, we know how to help.

Labour Market Studies 

Labour market studies are a bit like the HR Assessments that we do for single companies, but they are done for a whole industry or profession. We have done some large ones - namely in upstream oil & gas and tourism.

We also have expertise in the area of competency-based occupational standards. Our experience here includes a series of national projects that defined skill requirements for environmental workers.

Hear more about Dovetail Partners and its founder >>>