An introduction to the approach and philosophy of Ribbonfarm Consulting, a boutique firm based in Seattle.

1. UNSTUCK!
Introducing the ribbonfarm
approach to consulting

2. We offer exactly the same services
other boutique consulting firms do…

3.  Counsel on strategy
 Marketing and innovation support
 1:1 coaching for executives
 Organizational development
 Briefings on business/technology trends
 Independent research services

4. …we even use the same tools…

5.  Discovery of raw input
 Surveys and interviews
 Excel-fu and beyond for data crunching
 Participant observation
 Mathematical modeling and simulation
 Scenario planning
 Thoughtful visualizations
 Customized conceptual constructs
 Long-form narrative synthesis
 Slide decks that jolt people awake

6. …and our experience is not in
particularly esoteric industries...

7.  Web and mobile
 Enterprise software
 Electronics hardware
 Aerospace and military
 IT Services

8. …but we still deliver different results...
…results that get you unstuck...
…from business-as-usual despair.

9. How?

10. The fox knows many things, the
hedgehog knows one big thing.
-- Archilocus
10

11. Consultants can get you
unstuck in two ways…

12. Attribution:
Hedgehog: Lars Karlsson
Some help you find the right answers…
12
(we do that some of the time)…

13. Attributions:
Fox: Rob Lee
and some help you find the right questions.
13
(that’s us most of the time)…

14. We learn from stories old and new…

15. Clausewitz and Sun Tzu
Al Ries’ Positioning
Porter’s five forces
Carlotta Perez’s theories
Drucker and Peters
Scrum and agile
Blitzkrieg, Boyd and OODA
Eli Goldratt’s The Goal
Lean startups
Taleb’s Antifragility
Chesbrough’s Open Innovation
Christensen’s Disruption models
Yes, even villain du jour Frederick Taylor!
…and use many models, old and new…

16. …but we’re not attached to any of them…

17. …(not even our own)
“TEMPO is one of the most insightful and original
books on decision-making I’ve ever read…”
– Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell is Human
“An uncannily accurate analysis of our choice-making
behaviors”
– David Allen, author of GETTING THINGS DONE
“Tempo is a highly original and engaging book…In a
world where timing is increasingly central to
success…an essential read…for everyone.”
– John Hagel, co-author of THE POWER OF PULL

18. And we can operate with just ONE principal
Venkatesh Rao
• PhD, Aerospace Engineering (Systems and Control), U. Michigan, 2003
• Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Xerox Innovation Group, 2006-2010
• AFOSR postdoc research at Cornell, 2004-2006
• First employee at Sulekha.com, 1999-2000

19. because we can call on a brain trust of unusual
people that’s been growing since 2007

20. …to go beyond our own thinking…
The
Gervais
Principle
The Milo
Criterion
The Gollum
Effect
The Locust
Economy
A Brief History
of the
Corporation:
1600-2100
Entrepreneurs
are the New
Labor

21. …and draw on the most creative
contemporary social and business thinking…

22. (that you won’t find in HBR)

23. to get you unstuck.

24. And though we do fail on occasion…

25. …and though some clients do decide our
approach isn’t for them…
Client Name Withheld
“I have enough mixed
feelings about it that any
endorsement couldn't be
a whole-hearted one”

26. …when we do succeed, our clients
say things like…

27. Venkat was able to apply some of his unique
analysis frameworks to our specific opportunities
and present some deep and thoughtful strategies for
us to consider as our market grows and matures.
We had Venkat present these results widely within
our sales and leadership team which has been
valuable in helping us frame our coming year.
-- Scott Regan, Apigee.

28. [Venkat] has a fantastic ability to create dialogue in
areas that are complicated but in need of discussion
and is painfully honest - a much needed and very
refreshing attribute.
His work/time ratio is nothing short of
phenomenal, creating in -depth results in a matter
of hours.
-- Mat Jackson, Live-Mapp.

29. So if you or your organization
need to get unstuck…

30. Give Venkat a call…