Menawat: Problem Definition and Analytics

By Bud on June 11, 2008 Comments (3)

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Much of Menawat's initial spade work is in defining the problem a company faces. Analytic techniques can then help discern the proper course of action. Menawat's founders give two examples from automotive and manufacturing to illustrate their approach.

Filed under: Adam Garfein | Anil Menawat | Automotive | Business Consulting | Finding Gaps | Menawat & Co. | Saline, MI

Often business problems present with one set of symptoms but have an entirely different cause. Further, in the larger analysis, the symptoms may not even be worth treating. In this segment, Anil Menawat and Adam Garfein of Menawat & Company discuss how they use techniques from Profit Mapping to help their clients discern problems' root causes and what if anything they might do. A few highlights:

  • Discerning the root cause of the problem is really about defining the true prolem the company faces.
  • Like Root Learning, Menawat takes a holistic, collaborative approach to problem definition.
  • Once the problem is defined, future scenarios can be explored to determine its potential impact on the business.
  • Anil and Adam provide two concrete examples from the automobile industry and manufacturing to illustrate their points.

3 Comments

Mary Adams on June 12, 2008 9:55 AM
Good morning! I find Menawals solutions to be interesting. It is fascinating that businesses often get so caught up in the day to day; they don’t have the expertise to get to the root of the problem. Considering the Ice burg theory, often we treat the symptoms, not the root cause. This is a vital service that can help businesses improve, and truly understand the problems, and where it is coming from, and how it is manifesting itself. IT helps break down the silos, and through a systematic approach it breaks down the problem and narrows the focus. Companies are experts in what they do, and this company is an expert in other company’s problems. They determine if data is critical, and help companies understand what data they needs, and then how to analyze it. In today’s world we can gather unlimited amounts of information, but we only need the data that helps guide to the root. So this company helps determine the data that is needed, which is the value add to their service. They create a business relevant profile and run it against analytical tools. Sometimes in a problem scenario, we are too close to it to be objective, or to “see.” We are in the problem or caught in the routines and we need someone else to look into it. I am curious, they do a great job of finding the problem, is there more information, or plan to then help solve the problems? Is there a consulting firm to partner with? Great stuff, Mary Adams
Gazmend Dervishaj on November 10, 2008 1:57 PM
I think Menawals offers some great solutions for small and large businesses, especially since in most of the cases companies waste a lot of time trying to solve different issues or (symptoms), and focusing as much on the root of the problem which is very delicate on solving problems.Sometimes companies try to save by doing in house a lot of services that are not their expertise and unfortunately they spend more because of time consuming and not knowing how to get to the bottom or roots of that problem.In todays society data is very critical factor for future predictions of companies, and if you are not able to analyze that data right it will affect the company in the long term.I am curious if Menawals do all their services in house or on job location? Great business idea! Gazmend Dervishaj
Lisa Lewis on November 16, 2008 12:02 PM
Interesting how Adam Garfein & Anil Manawat the Co-Founders can say they don't believe in titles, but they are consistent in listing them off in this interview. I am interested in the profit mapping of the 8 areas and sub areas to define problems, and analyze those for solutions. It is interesting that you can spend so much time, like the maintenance example given, collecting data, only to find that a department is so efficient that the collected data is irrelevant, and there really isn't a problem in that area, and now you have to go hunt elsewhere for where is the problem. Systems analysis is growing, and the idea of having this service company grow, now in Europe, by adding people is great. In the first segment, Anil says he looks for holistic thinkers. I would ask more what does that mean in business? I know in medicine what holistic is. Lisa Lewis

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