Preface

by The Robinsons

“What do you think of the idea of working together on a third edition of Performance Consulting?”

—Jack Phillips in conversation with Jim and Dana Robinson, ISPI Conference, 2013

We were stunned when this question was posed to us by Jack Phillips. We sold the intellectual property for our workshops and retired in 2011. We believed that the second edition of Performance Consulting, published in 2008, would be our last. However, the idea of a new edition was exciting to consider!

In ongoing conversations with both Jack and Patti Phillips, as well as Dick Handshaw, it became evident that coauthoring a third edition with these three individuals was not only possible but would be enriched by integrating each of our perspectives and experiences. Dick brings fresh applications and cases from his consulting practice, which employs performance consulting techniques. The Phillipses bring their robust body of work regarding measurement and evaluation. And we provide the performance consulting models and techniques that have evolved over thirty years and are validated by practitioners every day. Thus, we began our work as a team with this book the result.