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Interim assignments vary in scope and requirements, encompassing change management, gap assignments, project management and turnaround management. The following stages of the assignment lifecycle are typical of how Interim Managers enter the assignment, carry out the implementation, and finally exit the assignment. The early stages have much in common with consultancy; the later stages are very similar to project management. Responsibility and accountability however makes these stages uniquely typical of the Interim Management work.

Assignment & Process

• Management Process = Definition + Diagnostics + Design + Deployment + Delegation
• Assignment Lifecycle = Entry + Analysis + Proposal + Execution + Exit

1. Definition/Entry

The prospective client and Interim make initial contact and explore the requirement sufficiently for the client to be able to decide to engage the Interim Manager (or not) to address the situation. This is likely to involve a ‘preliminary’ assessment of what the client thinks they want and the boundaries of the Interim Manager’s contribution. Typically this takes place over one or more initial meetings and results in the Interim manager’s provisional engagement.

2. Diagnosis/Analysis

The Interim Manager researches the current situation in order to understand it, how it came about, what are the requirements of the varying stakeholders. At this stage a more detailed understanding of ‘what the situation is’ is formed as well as approaches to address it. Differing issues or problems may come to light at this stage than initially highlighted by the client. On a ‘gap’ assignment this diagnosis may run concurrently with the handling of immediate issues. Typically the diagnosis stage will take a few days.

3. Design/Proposal

The interim Manager presents a more detailed proposal which acts as the Interim Assignment objectives and plan. If this differs significantly from the preliminary plans determined at ‘Entry’, the solution may involve different requirements from the Interim Manager or possibly the ending of the assignment. It is common that this ‘Proposal’ may challenge the clients understanding of the situation, on the basis of Interim Manager’s expertise. The Interim Manager takes the responsibility to propose a solution most likely to be effective, not automatically the one originally requested. In the case of a ‘gap assignment’ such a proposal may simply outline how the Interim Manager will be a ‘safe pair of hands’.

4. Deployment/Execution

The interim Manager takes responsibility for managing the intervention, project, or solution, tracking progress and conducting periodic feedback reviews with the client. During this stage, Interim Managers particularly exemplify their expertise, accountability and effectiveness. Depending on the assignment, they get as close to the situation as is necessary, whilst remaining an independent practitioner. They may be managing teams, projects, dealing with crises or transformations or simply ‘holding the fort. Their implementation is unencumbered company politics or culture, focused on the task in hand.

5. Delegation/Exit

The interim Manager, approaching project end, ensures that objectives have been met, that the client is satisfied. This stage may involve ‘knowledge handover and training’, determining and sourcing ‘business as usual’ successors, and ‘sharing lessons learnt’ in the process. The Interim Manager is focused on the success of the assignment and not simply the length of their own tenure, which means that this stage can be carried our professionally and objectively. Often this will be end of the Interim Manager/Client relationship. Sometimes Interim Managers may continue to give occasional ad hoc consultancy. Sometimes the Interim Manager will be re-engaged on a follow-on or further assignment, starting the ‘lifecycle’ again.

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