Centrum Doradztwa Strategicznego (Strategic Consulting Centre) is a consulting and research company estabilished in year 2000, offering services in strategic planning and management and providing guidance to public institutions and businesses.

OUR CORE SERVICES

• Strategies and development programmes

We help public institutions, local governments and non-governmental organizations to plan and effectively manage strategic development. Services in this area include mission development (according to the Ashridge mission model), identification of strategic areas, definition of strategic goals, preparation of action plans and environmental impact assessments, etc. Our services have benefited, among others: Marshal's Office of the Lesser Poland Voivodship, Bełchatów City, Niepołomice Town and Municipality, National Museum in Cracow, the ‘Otwarta Rzeczpospolita’ Association.

• Public consultations and participatory actions

We design, consult and implement participative actions for eg. investments or projects, revitalization and spatial or strategic planning processes. We worked, among others for: the Municipality of Cracow, Rembertów District Office of the Capital City of Warsaw.

• Social research and evaluations

We carry out comprehensive research and evaluation processes related to social issues (eg. labor market, education), and also use a variety of research techniques in consulting projects. Services include preparation of social surveys (qualitative or quantitative such as Focus Group Interview and Individual In-Depth Interview) to assess inhabitants’ needs and preferences, evaluate performance of local authorities, determine local community’s acceptance of planned investments, research business attitudes, evaluate new products and test brands. Our research services were used, among others, by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, the National Museum in Warsaw, Tadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology or the Regional Center of Social Policy in Cracow.

• Procurement of external funds

We support local governments, public institutions, NGOs and entrepreneurs in the processes of applying for external funds. Applications are prepared together with all the supporting documents, including completed application form, feasibility study and environmental impact assessment.

• Trainings

We design and conduct trainings aimed at developing participants' competences in the field of strategic planning and social participation. We work on the standards of the International Trainer Management Certificate in the field of training, learning and development. Our clients include: the the Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation, Gdańsk City Development Office, Ashoka Association, Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP), IMC Poland sp. o.o.

• Consulting services in strategic planning and project management

We support public institutions, local governments and non-governmental organizations in the effective implementation of strategic objectives and the implementation of projects (also based on the PRINCE2® methodology).  Our services have been used, for example, by the Metropolia Krakowska Association.

ABOUT US

Centrum Doradztwa Strategicznego (CDS) is a company established in 2000 and managed by Dagmara Bieńkowska and Cezary Ulasiński, who have experience in working for academic institutions (Jagiellonian University), training and consulting institutions (Małopolska Institute of Local Government and Administration), research organisations (VRG-Strategy), public administration institutions and non-governmental organisations (ASHOKA). They are also holders of international certificates in consultancy and training from Thames Valley University in London, Mundi Consulting in Switzerland and DEVCO in Ireland.

Since June 2005 there has been new co-owner of CDS Justyna Szymańska - Public Administration Specialist and Expert in public procurement. Since 2000 she has been acting as project co-ordinator and expert in preparing local development planning, social - economic analyses, evaluation and social surveys as well as public procurement and procurement of external funds for businesses and public institutions (preparation of applications, feasibility studies and business plans). She has made an essential impact on the development of the company as well as building its present image.

In June 2017, Magdalena Widuch became the fourth co-owner of CDS. She is certified project manager, moderator and trainer with many years of experience in cooperation with the public and non-governmental sector. She graduated from the Jagiellonian University (political science, administratiion) and School of Management Trainers MATRIK. Since 2005 Ms Widuch conducted a series of trainings, strategic sessions and consultation meetings as part of the process of creating strategies for local governments and non-governmental organizations.

The team of CDS consists of over 20 experts and consultants, who are professional and committed to their work. To meet the demands of diverse projects undertaken throughout Poland, CDS collaborates furthermore with a variety of experts and consultants from Poland and abroad.

HOW WE WORK

CDS employs - permanently or for the implementation of specific projects - dozens of outstanding specialists (consultants, experts, trainers, lecturers). Thanks to the mobility of our consultants and a wide network of partners, we provide services throughout the country. We are also increasingly implementing international partnership projects.

Face-to-face consulting is what distinguishes services provided by CDS consultants. When implementing strategic planning and management processes we combine expert activities with workshops involving large teams of people. We achieve this by using widely applied strategic analysis and training techniques.

If there is such a need, we are not afraid to reach for diverse research techniques and include them in planning or consulting processes. In a creative way we adapt techniques used in management in the business sector to working conditions of local government, public institutions or non-governmental organizations.

Do you want to know more about our work? Watch the short movie about us.