Process
Engagement Stages
How a Magnolia Core operational process review unfolds from first call to follow-up — stages, timelines, and what we need from you.
Every engagement follows the same backbone so you know what to expect before we arrive on site. Timelines adjust for consultation type, but the principles stay consistent: observe first, recommend second, and leave you with documents your team can use without us in the room.
1. Introductory call
30 minutes by phone or video. You describe your business, staff count, locations, and the process that worries you. We explain which consultation fits and give a fee range. No obligation to proceed.
Your role: Share honest context — including recent staff changes or upcoming busy seasons.
2. Scoping & deposit
We send a written scope with dates, deliverables, and fixed fee. A 40% deposit reserves consultant time. You receive an intake questionnaire covering departments, shift patterns, and sample documents to gather.
Your role: Return the questionnaire within five business days and block leadership time for the final presentation.
3. Kick-off
45-minute call with the owner and any department heads you choose. We confirm which paths to trace first, access needs (stock room, POS reports, etc.), and communication norms for staff.
Your role: Introduce consultants to key staff so interviews are welcomed, not surprising.
4. On-site observation
Consultants attend your premises for the booked days. They shadow work, ask factual questions, and collect form samples. Owners are asked to run normal operations — not a cleaned-up version.
Your role: Provide a quiet space for end-of-day notes and answer clarification questions promptly.
5. Draft findings
Within five business days of the last site visit, we share draft observations for factual correction. You may flag errors or missing context; we do not debate recommendations at this stage.
Your role: Review drafts within three business days so we can finalise on schedule.
6. Final report & presentation
Delivered as PDF with optional bilingual summary. A 60–90 minute walkthrough with leadership covers the process map, ranked recommendations, and suggested owners for each action.
Your role: Decide which recommendations to pursue and assign internal owners.
7. Follow-up call
14 days after delivery, a 30-minute call answers implementation questions. We do not execute changes for you, but we clarify intent of any recommendation.
Your role: Note blockers you hit so we can suggest practical adjustments.
Ready to begin?
Most engagements start within three to six weeks of the introductory call, depending on season. Peak periods (Lunar New Year preparation, year-end inventory) book earlier.