5 Things to Know Before Hiring a Transformation Consultancy
đ„ Introduction
Hiring a transformation consultancy should feel like gaining a trusted partnerânot being dazzled by slides and left with the bill. Yet, many businesses fall into that trap.
And in this era of AI-driven disruption, the cost of choosing the wrong partner isnât just moneyâitâs missed opportunity, wasted time, and transformation failure.
Before you sign on the dotted line, here are five essential truths you need to knowâespecially if you’re serious about real, sustainable, future-ready transformation.
In this post, Iâm going to break down:
What Youâll Learn in This Article:
- What is Transformation Consulting (and When Do You Need It)?
- The Step-by-Step Breakdown of a True Transformation Engagement
- The Business Transformator: Redefining Transformation Success
- Step 1: Business-Led Discovery
- Step 2: Stakeholder Alignment
- Step 3: Design the Target Operating Model
- Step 4: Roadmap and Prioritisation
- Step 5: Implementation with Embedded Capability
- Step 5: Implementation with Embedded Capability
- Tips to Make Transformation More Efficient (and Less Risky)
- Mistakes Most Companies Make (and Why You Canât Afford To Now)
- AI Is Raising the Stakes: Failure Is Not an Option
- FAQs
- Conclusion: Itâs Not Just About TransformationâItâs About Winning the Future
- Take the Next Step Now
Letâs get into it đ
What is Transformation Consulting (and When Do You Need It)?
Hereâs how a legitimate transformation project should run (spoiler: it’s not endless decks and daily stand-ups with no outcomes):
- Youâre shifting your business model to include AI or automation.
- Youâre scaling fast or entering new digital markets.
- Youâve stalled and need a breakthrough.
- Youâre drowning in siloed initiatives and unclear priorities.
But not all consultancies are built the same. And in todayâs high-stakes AI landscape, thereâs no room for error.
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đ«"If your transformation partner canât show you their framework, they donât have one. If itâs not published, itâs probably made up." đđ§ââïžâ Heath Gascoigne #BusinessTransformation #DigitalStrategy #HOBA
The Step-by-Step Breakdown of a True Transformation Engagement
Hereâs how a legitimate transformation project should run (spoiler: it’s not endless decks and daily stand-ups with no outcomes):
Step 1: Business-Led Discovery
Start with the business problem and outcome. Not tech. Not tools. Not change theatre.
Step 2: Stakeholder Alignment
Align Strategy, Operations, and Implementation teams early. Donât let them talk past each other.
â ïž"In the AI era, the cost of failed transformation isnât just moneyâitâs missed opportunities. The market wonât wait."âłđ â Heath Gascoigne #AITransformation #Leadership #BusinessGrowth
Step 3: Design the Target Operating Model
Use a transparent, holistic, business-led framework to define your future state. (Hint: if itâs not published or provenâwalk away.)
Step 4: Roadmap and Prioritisation
Plan transformation like a program, not a project list. Quick wins + long-term capabilities = progress.
Step 5: Implementation with Embedded Capability
Donât just deliver outputsâdeliver capability. Your team should grow stronger, not more dependent.
Tips to Make Transformation More Efficient (and Less Risky)
- Use a Published, Proven Framework â HOBAÂź is transparent, internationally recognised, and has been used by governments and top global firms. Others? Mostly smoke and mirrors.
- Donât Confuse âPeople Changeâ with Transformation â Frameworks like ADKAR or Prosci are useful for training and adoptionâbut real transformation requires a holistic approach.
- Beware of Black Boxes â If they canât show you how it works, it probably doesnât.
Mistakes Most Companies Make (and Why You Canât Afford To Now)
- Falling for Brand Over Substance The BCGs and McKinseys often have âwings of wingsâ selling big ideas. Execution? Often vague, delayed, or made up on the fly.
- Thinking Change Management = Transformation Change management is about people adjusting. Transformation is about redesigning your business to win. Different animals.
- Trusting Copycats Over Credibility With AI transformation exploding, imitators are everywhereâstealing frameworks like HOBAÂź, repackaging them, and claiming credit. If the framework isnât published, if they havenât authored a book, or if they canât show consistent resultsâbeware. â Go to the source. Not the imitators.
đ§©"Transformation fails when strategy speaks one language, operations another, and delivery a third. HOBAÂź is the common language that aligns them all." đđïž â Heath Gascoigne #TransformationLeadership #HOBAFramework #BusinessArchitecture
AI Is Raising the Stakes: Failure Is Not an Option
In the current AI wave, speed is everythingâbut it means risk is higher too. The transformation project that stalls or fails wonât just cost you time or moneyâitâll cost you the competitive advantage. The market wonât wait. Opportunities wonât circle back.
If your consultants are making it up as they go, using people-first frameworks in a business-first transformation, or hiding their methods behind jargonâyouâre wasting time you donât have.
FAQs
Q: Whatâs different about HOBA compared to the big firms?
A: Weâre not secretive. Our framework is published, government-endorsed, and used across the UK public and private sector. Itâs designed for transparency, speed, and scaleânot mystery and billable bloat.
Q: How do I know whoâs legit?
A: Look for proof: books, frameworks, training, endorsements. If they canât show it, they probably stole it or stitched it together from borrowed slides.
Q: Can I use HOBA on a fractional basis?
A: Absolutely. Our Fractional Transformation Consulting gives you access to world-class capabilityâwithout the full-time headcount or commitment.
đ§ Conclusion: Itâs Not Just About TransformationâItâs About Winning the Future
In this era of rapid AI-driven change, transformation isnât optionalâitâs existential.
â
If your consultancy canât show you a published framework,
â
If theyâve never worked with governments or enterprise firms,
â
If their method is secret, vague, or sounds eerily familiar…
Youâre not partnering with experts. Youâre funding a guessing game.
You need to go to the source. Transparent. Proven. Recognised. That’s HOBA.
đ„ Is Your Organisation Ready for AI? Donât GuessâGet the Facts.
- Assess AI readiness in 6 areas
- Get tailored, practical recommendations
- Benchmark strategy, tech, and impact
đ "A framework that takes two decades to create is unlikely to be practical or adaptable in todayâs fast-moving business environment." #BusinessArchitecture #TOM #Practitioner-built đŒ
đ Take the Next Step Now
Youâve seen whatâs at stake. Now itâs time to take action:
đ Option 1: Book a 1:1 Strategy Call
Get expert insight on where you are, where youâre stuck, and how to accelerate your AI transformation with the right structure, sequencing, and support.
đ Book your Strategy Call Here.
đ Option 2: Take the AI Transformation Scorecard
In under 5 minutes, assess your AI transformation readiness across strategy, operations, tech, and delivery. Instantly get your personalised score + step-by-step tips on what to fix and where to focus.
đ Get Your Score Now.
Don’t let imitators, internal delays, or bad frameworks cost you the future.
Take the lead. Get ahead. Stay ahead.
đĄ Start your transformation rightâwith the framework built for it.
About HOBA Tech
If this resonated with you, discover how to make Business Transformation a realityâwith less stress, fewer resources, and faster results. Explore our award-winning agile Business Transformation Framework, trusted by organizations worldwide, from the UK Government and FTSE-100 companies to innovative start-ups. Ready to begin your transformation journey? Start here.
Curious why The Business Transformation Playbook is hailed as the âBusiness Transformation Bibleâ? See what readers are saying in the Amazon reviews.
Weâd love to hear your thoughts! Let us know in the comments what stood out to you or what topics youâd like us to cover next. If you found this valuable, share it with others who could benefit!
Thank you for reading, and hereâs to your transformation success!
Sincerely,
Heath Gascoigne
P.S. If you want to join our Business Transformator community of 2,000+ like-minded Business Transformators, join the community on the Business Transformator Facebook Group here.
P.P.S. If you want to learn more about business transformation, check out The Business Transformation Playbook.
đ„ Is Your Organisation Ready for AI? Donât GuessâGet the Facts.
- Assess AI readiness in 6 areas
- Get tailored, practical recommendations
- Benchmark strategy, tech, and impact
Heath Gascoigne
Founder & CEO, HOBA Tech
Digital Transformation CEO of the Year 2025
Author, The Business Transformation Playbook
Hi, I'm Heath, the founder of HOBA TECH and host of The Business Transformation Podcast. I help Business Transformation Consultants, Business Designers and Business Architects transform their and their clients' business and join the 30% club that succeed. Join me on this journey.
P.S. â Still not on the HOBA Pro AI waitlist? Join now. The future of transformation launches in days, not months.
