Consulting Services
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Over more than 15 years, van Gelder & Monk have provided consulting services in the broad area of analytic thinking to many different organisations, ranging from the Department of Defence to the Hawthorn Football Club.
As a niche consulting firm, our business model is based on providing bespoke services based on a high level of involvement by our principals, at a competitive fee level compared with larger firms. |
Cognitive Process Review
Our distinctive speciality is cognitive process review. That is, we help organisations examine and improve the processes they have for making judgements of particular kinds.
A review generally results in recommendations for improving the processes so that better judgements are made, or that the process works more efficiently. We also assist with the implementation of recommendations.
Sometimes our contribution is to help design and implement a custom process to handle a particular challenge.
We have conducted dozens of engagements of this kind. Examples include:
A review generally results in recommendations for improving the processes so that better judgements are made, or that the process works more efficiently. We also assist with the implementation of recommendations.
Sometimes our contribution is to help design and implement a custom process to handle a particular challenge.
We have conducted dozens of engagements of this kind. Examples include:
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Elite Sports Coaching
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In 2014 we conducted a review of coaching decision making at Hawthorn Football Club. To our knowledge this was the first such independent review at any Australian elite sports organisation. After conducting interviews, and extensive close observation of the coaches at work, we produced a report with some twenty recommendations for improving decision making. Hawthorn, already reigning premiers, went on to win again in 2014 and 2015, making it arguably the greatest AFL team in history.
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Major Bank Operational Risk
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One of our principals, while working at a major Australian bank, reviewed and redesigned the banks process of estimating extreme operational risks, such as the impact on the bank of a global flu pandemic. This work helped position the bank at the forefront of operational risk assessment and management.
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Intelligence Analysis
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We reviewed the processes by which a major intelligence agency screens incoming information to identify the information which deserves immediate action. We validated the process in terms of its consistency with what cognitive science tells us about human judgement.
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Investment Decisions
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We were engaged by a major funds management firm to review their investment decision processes, focusing particularly on the way in which information and arguments were being presented to the investment committee. We found that the firm had some serious deficiencies in the way it handled uncertainty and risk, and in the way the reasoning behind recommendations was being articulated.
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Military Decision Making
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We were engaged by the Chief of Army to review the Military Appreciation Process, the official framework in which Army officers are trained to use in making important operational decisions.
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Defense Acquisition
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We worked closely with scientists at the Defence Science Technology Group to develop a process for estimating the rate of attrition (loss) for a type of aircraft that Defence was considering purchasing. This "expert elicitation" process is now being further developed for use across Defence whenever important, difficult estimates have to be made.
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