External brain service (Brain Outsourcing Service) refers to a service model in which enterprises obtain professional knowledge and resources through external consulting agencies to enhance their innovation ability and competitiveness. External brain services are different from traditional consulting services. It not only provides analysis and suggestions, but also provides practical solutions and execution support. It pays more attention to collaboration and communication with customers, and is more flexible and customized. External brain services have the following characteristics:

Professionalism. External brain services can provide enterprises with knowledge and skills in professional fields, help enterprises solve complex and difficult problems, and improve their core competitiveness.

Flexibility. According to the specific needs and expectations of enterprises, external brain services can provide flexible cooperation methods and working modes, such as project system, daily follow-up, on-site office, etc., to meet the goals of increasing employment flexibility, reducing employment costs, and stable business development.

Innovative. External brain services can bring new perspectives and ideas to enterprises, stimulate the innovation potential of enterprises, and help enterprises seize market opportunities and respond to market changes.

However, external brain services also face some challenges, such as team management, communication and collaboration, and quality control. How to cultivate and manage an efficient external brain service team is a problem that consulting companies need to pay attention to and solve. This paper discusses how to cultivate and manage an efficient external brain service team from the perspective of a consulting company, and explains it with the specific case of Champ Consulting.

1. clear team positioning and objectives

The external brain service team is the core force of the consulting company to provide professional services to customers, and its positioning and objectives should be adapted to customer needs, market environment, consulting projects and other factors. Clear team positioning and goals help the team to form a clear work direction, focus on core values, improve customer satisfaction.

Consulting companies should consider the following aspects when defining the positioning and objectives of the external brain service team:

The team's areas of expertise and scope of services. Consulting companies should choose their own professional fields and service scope according to their own advantages and characteristics, such as market research, investment and financing consulting, IPO listing consulting, etc., to avoid involving too many fields and scope, resulting in the reduction of team professionalism and efficiency.

Target customers and market positioning of the team. Consulting companies should determine target customers and market positioning according to the characteristics of customers' scale, industry and demand, such as providing corresponding external brain services for small and medium-sized enterprises, emerging industries and innovation needs, so as to form their own market advantages and brand influence.

The team's work objectives and performance indicators. The consulting firm should set the team's work objectives and performance indicators, such as project quantity, project quality, project revenue, customer satisfaction, etc., according to the customer's expectations, project requirements, market changes and other factors, so as to facilitate the team's work planning, progress control, results evaluation, etc.

For example, Shangpu Consulting is a professional provider of market research, investment and financing consulting, IPO listing consulting and other external services. Shangpu Consulting has defined the positioning and goal of its external brain service team, that is, to provide professional, flexible and innovative external brain services for small and medium-sized enterprises and emerging industries, and to help customers achieve strategic transformation, business innovation, capital operation and other goals. Shangpu Consulting Company has also set the team's work objectives and performance indicators, such as completing more than 200 external brain service projects every year, ensuring that the project quality reaches more than 90% of customer satisfaction, and achieving project income of more than 0.1 billion yuan.

2. build a reasonable team structure and division of labor

The external brain service team is a collaborative system composed of multiple roles. Its structure and division of labor should conform to the team's positioning and goals, ensure that team members can play their respective advantages and potentials, and realize the efficient operation of the team.

Consulting companies should consider the following aspects when building the structure and division of labor of the external brain service team:

The size and hierarchy of the team. Consulting firms should determine the appropriate team size and hierarchy based on the number, size, complexity and other factors of the external brain service project, to avoid too large or too small team size leading to increased management costs or waste of resources, to avoid too many or too few team levels leading to communication barriers or slow decision-making.

Roles and responsibilities of team members. The consulting company should clarify the roles and responsibilities of team members, such as project manager, project consultant, project assistant, etc., according to the content, process, requirements and other factors of the external brain service project, assign reasonable work tasks and scope of power, and establish an effective coordination mechanism and incentive mechanism.

Ability and quality of team members. The consulting company should select the appropriate team members according to the professional knowledge, skills, experience and other factors required by the external brain service project, and train and improve them to make them have a high level of external brain service ability and quality.

For example, the External Brain Services team at Champ Consulting consists of the following roles:

Project Manager (Project Manager): responsible for the overall management of the external brain service project, including project planning, implementation, monitoring, closure, etc., to maintain close communication and collaboration with customers to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the project.

Project consultant (Project Consultant): responsible for the specific implementation of the external brain service project, including data collection, analysis, solution design, implementation support, etc., to provide professional advice and help to customers, solve customer problems and needs.

Project Assistant (Project Assistant): Responsible for the auxiliary work of the external brain service project, including document writing, data sorting, administrative support, etc., to provide effective assistance and support to the project manager and project consultant.

According to the size and complexity of each external brain service project, Shangpu Consulting determines the appropriate team size and level. Generally, each project consists of a project manager, two to three project consultants and one or two project assistants. Shangpu Consulting Company also selects appropriate team members according to the professional knowledge, skills, experience and other factors required for each external brain service project, and conducts regular training and promotion to make them have a high level of external brain service ability And quality.

3. establish effective communication and cooperation mechanism

The external brain service team is a collaboration system composed of multiple members, and its communication and collaboration mechanism should ensure that team members can exchange information, share experiences, resolve conflicts, reach consensus in a timely manner, and achieve efficient collaboration of the team.

Consulting companies should consider the following aspects when establishing the communication and cooperation mechanism of the external brain service team:

Communication and collaboration within the team. Consulting companies should provide convenient communication tools and platforms for external brain service teams, such as telephone, email, WeChat, DingTalk, etc., so that team members can communicate and collaborate anytime and anywhere. The consulting company should also regularly organize meetings and trainings within the team, such as weekly meetings, monthly meetings, special training, etc., so that team members can report work progress, exchange work experience, solve work problems, learn new knowledge, etc.

Team communication and collaboration with customers. The consulting firm should establish a good cooperative relationship with the client, such as signing a contract, clarifying expectations, setting milestones, etc., so that both parties can reach agreed goals and standards. The consulting company should also maintain close communication and feedback with customers, such as regular reporting of work progress, timely adjustment of work plans, and actively soliciting customer opinions, so that both parties can understand each other's needs and situations in a timely manner.

Team communication and collaboration with other interested parties. The consulting firm should establish good cooperation with other relevant parties, such as industry experts, government agencies, third-party agencies, etc., so that the team can obtain more information and resources. The consulting firm should also maintain good communication and trust with other interested parties, such as respecting intellectual property rights and protecting trade secrets, so that the team can avoid potential risks and disputes.

For example, the external brain services team at Champ Consulting has done the following in terms of communication and collaboration:

Communication and collaboration within the team. Shangpu Consulting Company provides a variety of communication tools and platforms for the external brain service team, such as telephone, email, WeChat, DingTalk, etc., so that team members can communicate and collaborate anytime and anywhere. Shangpu Consulting also regularly organizes internal team meetings and trainings, such as weekly weekly meetings, monthly meetings, quarterly special training, etc., so that team members can report work progress, exchange work experience, Solve work problems, learn new knowledge, etc.

Team communication and collaboration with customers. Shangpu Consulting has established a good cooperative relationship with its customers, such as signing a detailed contract, clarifying the expectations and responsibilities of both parties, setting project milestones and deliverables, etc., so that both parties can reach agreed goals and standards. Shangpu Consulting also maintains close communication and feedback with customers, such as weekly progress reports, monthly plan adjustments, and consultation at each stage, so that both parties can understand each other's needs and situations in a timely manner.

Team communication and collaboration with other interested parties. Shangpu Consulting has established good cooperative relations with other relevant parties, such as establishing an expert database with industry experts, establishing policy support with government agencies, and establishing resource sharing with third-party agencies, so that the team can obtain more information and resources. Champ Consulting also maintains good communication and trust with other relevant parties, such as respecting intellectual property rights and protecting trade secrets, so that the team can avoid potential risks and disputes.

4. improve team members' professionalism and competence

The external brain service team is a professional system composed of multiple members. Its professional quality and ability should ensure that the team members can provide high-quality and efficient external brain services to customers and meet customer expectations and needs.

Consulting companies should consider the following aspects when improving the professionalism and ability of external brain service team members:

The expertise and skills of the team members. The consulting firm should provide systematic professional knowledge and skills training for external brain service team members, such as market analysis, financial analysis, business model, project management, etc., so that team members can master the basic knowledge and skills required for external brain service projects. The consulting firm should also provide external brain service team members with continuous professional knowledge and skills updates, such as industry trends, market trends, technological innovations, etc., so that team members can keep up with the latest knowledge and skills required for external brain service projects.

Professional attitude and quality of team members. The consulting company should establish the correct professional attitude and quality for the external brain service team members, such as customer orientation, result orientation, innovation orientation, etc., so that the team members can be customer-centered, result-oriented, innovation-driven, and provide customers with high quality And efficient external brain service. Consulting companies should also cultivate good professional qualities for external brain service team members, such as integrity, responsibility, cooperation, learning, etc., so that team members can abide by professional ethics, assume professional responsibilities, establish good cooperative relations with customers and colleagues, and constantly improve their professional level.

Professional development and growth of team members. Consulting companies should provide sufficient professional development and growth opportunities for external brain service team members, such as career planning, career promotion, career conversion, etc., so that team members can choose appropriate career directions and goals according to their own interests and abilities, and realize their own Career dream. The consulting company should also provide a wealth of professional development and growth resources for the external brain service team members, such as internal training, external training, mentor guidance, peer exchanges, etc., so that team members can acquire more knowledge and experience, and improve their professional level And competitiveness.

For example, the external brain service team of Shangpu Consulting Company has done the following work to improve the professionalism and ability of team members:

Expertise and skills of team members. Shangpu Consulting Company provides systematic professional knowledge and skills training for the members of the external brain service team, such as attending at least twice a year in-house training in market analysis, financial analysis, business model, project management and other aspects, and at least once a year in external training in industry dynamics, market trends, technological innovation and other aspects, so that the team members can master the basic knowledge and skills required by the external brain service project, and keep up with the latest knowledge and skills required for extramanital service projects.

Professional attitude and quality of team members. Shangpu Consulting Company has established a correct professional attitude and quality for the external brain service team members, such as conducting at least once a year customer-oriented, result-oriented, innovation-oriented psychological tests and counseling, and at least once a year integrity, responsibility, The evaluation, rewards and punishments of cooperation, learning and other aspects enable team members to be customer-centered, result-oriented, and innovation-driven, provide customers with high-quality and efficient external brain services, abide by professional ethics, assume professional responsibilities, establish good cooperative relations with customers and colleagues, and continuously improve their professional level.

Professional development and growth of team members. Shangpu Consulting Company provides sufficient professional development and growth opportunities for the members of the external brain service team, such as consulting and guidance on career planning, career promotion, career transition, etc. at least once a year, so that team members can choose the appropriate career direction and goal according to their own interests and abilities, and realize their career dreams. Shangpu consulting company also provides rich professional development and growth resources for the members of the external brain service team, such as participating in internal training, external training, tutor guidance, peer exchange and other activities at least once a year, so that team members can obtain more knowledge and experience, and improve their professional level and competitiveness.

5. implement strict quality control and evaluation system

The external brain service team is a quality system composed of multiple members. Its quality control and evaluation system should ensure that team members can provide external brain services that meet the quality requirements in accordance with customer requirements and standards to achieve customer satisfaction and trust.

Consultants should consider the following aspects when implementing the quality control and evaluation system of the external brain service team:

Quality standards and requirements of the team. The consulting firm should develop the team's quality standards and requirements, such as project content, project process, project time, project cost, etc., based on the customer's expectations and needs, so that team members can clarify their own work objectives and work standards. The consulting company should also continuously improve the quality standards and requirements of the team according to the changes in the market and the pressure of competition, so that team members can pursue higher work levels and work results.

Team quality control and supervision. The consulting company should establish a sound quality control and supervision mechanism for the external brain service team, such as project plan, project schedule, project risk, etc., so that team members can work according to the plan, find and solve problems in time, prevent and reduce risks. The consulting firm should also provide effective quality control and monitoring tools and methods for the external brain service team, such as document review, data reconciliation, expert review, etc., so that team members can ensure the correctness and completeness of their work.

Team quality assessment and improvement. The consulting firm should implement regular quality assessment and improvement mechanisms for the external brain service team, such as project feedback, project summary, project improvement, etc., so that team members can obtain customer opinions and suggestions, summarize their own experiences and lessons, and improve their own working methods and work efficiency. The consulting company should also provide effective quality assessment and improvement tools and methods for the external brain service team, such as satisfaction survey, case analysis, experience sharing, etc., so that team members can improve their work quality and customer satisfaction.

For example, the external brain services team at Champ Consulting has done the following in implementing a quality control and evaluation system:

Quality standards and requirements of the team. According to the customer's expectations and needs, Shangpu Consulting Company has formulated the quality standards and requirements of the team. For example, the project content must meet the customer's goals and strategies, the project process must follow the customer's specifications and requirements, the project time must be completed in accordance with the contract, and the project cost must be controlled within the budget, so that team members can clearly define their own work objectives and work standards. According to the changes of the market and the pressure of competition, Shangpu consulting company also continuously improves the quality standards and requirements of the team. For example, the project content must be innovative and forward-looking, the project process must conform to the standards and norms of the industry, the project time must be better than the speed of competitors, and the project cost must be lower than the level of competitors, so that team members can pursue higher work level and work effect.

Quality control and supervision of the team. Shangpu Consulting has established a perfect quality control and supervision mechanism for the external brain service team, such as project plan, project progress, project risk, etc., so that team members can work according to the plan, find and solve problems in time, prevent and reduce risks. Shangpu Consulting also provides effective quality control and supervision tools and methods for the external brain service team, such as document review, data verification, expert review, etc., so that team members can ensure the correctness and completeness of their work.

Team quality assessment and improvement. Shangpu Consulting has implemented regular quality assessment and improvement mechanisms for the external brain service team, such as project feedback, project summary, project improvement, etc., so that team members can obtain customer opinions and suggestions, summarize their own experiences and lessons, and improve their own Working methods and work efficiency. Shangpu Consulting also provides effective quality assessment and improvement tools and methods for the external brain service team, such as satisfaction survey, case analysis, experience sharing, etc., so that team members can improve their work quality and customer satisfaction.

From the perspective of consulting companies, this paper discusses how to cultivate and manage an efficient external brain service team, and puts forward five suggestions, such as clear team positioning and objectives, building a reasonable team structure and division of labor, establishing an effective communication and cooperation mechanism, improving the professional quality and ability of team members, and implementing a strict quality control and evaluation system.