Many consulting relationships aim for first-order change: solving an immediate problem, fulfilling an urgent need. Transition States often provides such time-critical services.

At the same time, as the saying goes, learning to fish better assures a lifetime of good (and healthy) meals. So we encourage projects that also deliver second-order change: developing an enhanced ability to take on and solve a greater range of problems, and to create or adapt new methods as needed. Some clients are surprised at how small an increment of cost (largely in staff commitment) can lead to a major gain in capability for problem-solving and opportunity capture in the future.

Many of our successful innovation programs, for example, have been run as highly interactive workshops. We may bring specialist knowledge of technology and markets, plus structural models for innovation, business processes, etc. Including a range of client staff ensures best criteria and buy-in at an early stage. It also helps the client to select and use advanced tools when new program challenges inevitably arise.

Part of our operating philosophy is that we are not in competition with our clients. We believe that your becoming more capable at what we do only enhances our own business, creating opportunities for higher-level collaboration in the future.

Every organization, sub-group and individual operates at a different level of capability. Factors include aptitude, attitude, training and environment. Each Transition States program can be adjusted for your unique needs, taking into account the intended participant group (size, experience), geography/culture, time and budget. Although we have "canned" programs to meet a variety of common needs, we encourage clients to let us tailor each program based on a careful assessment of immediate and projected requirements.

We have provided training programs in several major areas, with special focus on: