Organizational Development & Business Transformation
Program, Organizational, and Financial Reviews
Stellar Associates brings a fresh, unbiased, and creative perspective to program, business, and financial managers. Sometimes managers know the answers to their business improvement questions but need external validation. Other times, managers are so close to a process they can’t look at it objectively, so they look to us for that outside assessment. We work with you to design an overall roadmap for enhanced financial and performance reporting, productivity improvements, and accountability.
Our program, organizational, and financial review or assessment approach has consistently achieved highly effective results for our clients. This success is a result of our emphasis on collaborative, iterative processes and ongoing stakeholder feedback built into the overall design.
Organizational Development
Our Organizational Development methodology is grounded in evidence-based practices and built on 30 years of practical experience with clients.
We utilize both quantitative and qualitative data to analyze the environment or the areas we are working in. We interview leadership and those closest to the work to understand the environment, daily practices, outputs, and outcomes. Our evaluation includes assessing the gap between the current and ideal state and providing reasonable and practical recommendations.
Stellar works with our clients to ensure our services, products, and recommendations are practical, helpful, and focused on client success. Our reviews and assessments include a review of approaches and promising practices; engagement of internal and external stakeholders; a gap analysis between current practices and promising practices; analysis of options for improved efficiencies and cost mitigation strategies; and ongoing project and change management support.
Strategic Planning
Stellar Associates has over 30 years’ experience helping government agencies in their strategic planning efforts. Our team employs a participatory and human-centered approach to strategic planning ensuring engagement, alignment, and actionable outcomes. Our approach goes beyond crafting a vision statement—it's about harnessing collective energy and insight to create a practical, forward-looking plan that drives meaningful progress and results.
We focus on collaborative work sessions where we guide participants through visioning, prioritization, and action planning, using structured facilitation to ensure a productive and inclusive process. We move from understanding the current state to defining priorities, and ultimately craft a strategy that is clear, achievable, and actionable.
Process Improvement
Our approach to change and improvement is straightforward: it begins with one small, meaningful change. By collaborating closely with your team, we identify opportunities to increase efficiency, improve quality, enhance productivity, and elevate overall experience. Over time, these incremental adjustments compound to create lasting, transformative results.
Stellar’s systematic approach to process improvement is comprised of several methodologies including Lean Six Sigma, Business Process Management, Total Quality Management, Agile, Prosci, and complementary organizational change management best practices. Whether we conduct process improvement workshops, business process improvements, efficiency audits, program reviews, or financial assessments, we approach the project with the following questions in mind:
- What is the goal and expected outcome?
- What is the current state?
- What is the desired future state?
- What are the gaps?
- What efficiencies could be realized from the assessment or review?
We prioritize trust, transparency, and collaboration to ensure all stakeholders feel safe, respected, and empowered to contribute their ideas and perspectives. By engaging directly with your team, we gather meaningful insights and develop a clear, accurate Current State Map. This includes a thorough analysis of issues and opportunities, which is presented to project sponsors for review and approval—laying the groundwork for effective, lasting improvements. Additionally, Stellar will provide an implementation plan and share any relevant tools or promising practices that could support successful implementation.
Organizational Change Management
People are the most valuable and important asset for any organization. We recognize and celebrate this at Stellar. Therefore, when a client is experiencing change, we will ensure people’s impacts remain front of mind every step of the way.
We provide the infrastructure, methodology, expertise, planning and leadership training necessary for our clients to have success with complex, transformative change. We work with our clients in collaboration to identify their specific change needs and empower them to reach and exceed objectives using proven certified tools, techniques, and best-practice.
Our team is certified with over 28 years’ experience in multiple change methodologies, including advanced Prosci, giving us the ability to tailor unique, specific options for each client. In addition, rounding the change training and experience, Stellar professionals bring superb techniques in organizational development, certified leadership coaching, instructional design, and other training delivery certifications (DiSC, Crucial Conversations, MBTI, 360 Leadership Assessments; 16 Personalities, and more). Stellar is well equipped, experienced, and continually evolving our change education to remain current- providing the most up to date tools, application, and techniques to partner with our clients for sustainable, positive change.
Our approach begins with pre-planning and ends with ensuring support systems and comprehensive hand-off plans are in place for people to thrive. We leave each client with a richer OCM competency and armed with the tools and process to repeat and improve upon their project success.
Facilitation
Stellar Associates specializes in crafting agendas that align with your team's objectives, focusing on strategic alignment, team building, and leveraging individual strengths to lead the meeting.
Our facilitation approach is centered around guiding your team through a tailored journey, from start to finish, while fostering a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment. Each engagement is thoughtfully customized to meet your unique needs, considering factors such as:
- Team composition
- Goals and objectives
- Location (remote or onsite)
Collaboration is a core value at Stellar, and we work to create an environment that helps you achieve the lasting change you’re seeking. We begin by gaining a deep understanding of your goals for the day, as well as the dynamics and relationships within your team. Every agenda we design strikes a balance between complexity and opportunity, providing the right conditions for meaningful collaboration and growth.
Stellar applies proven methodologies to foster stronger relationships, creating an environment for teams to grow and evolve. To keep participants engaged and motivated, we use a diverse range of tools and strategies, including Liberating Structures, Transformative Facilitation, and other innovative techniques to guide you toward your desired outcomes.
Our Business Consulting Engagements have included:
- Adult Family Home Council
- Harlequin Productions
- Olympic College
- Thurston County
- Thurston County Public Health
- Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts
- Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals
- Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Family Services
- Washington State Department of Commerce
- Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Washington State Department of Health
- Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
- Washington State Department of Licensing
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources
- Washington State Department of Transportation
- Washington State Indeterminate Sentence Review Board
- Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings
- Washington State Patrol