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• Client Relationship Management: communication and engagement activities performed to manage client relationships within the organization aimed at identifying new or follow on work; can be performed explicitly by group leaders or universally by all group members

• Opportunity Assessment: assessment process engaging business stakeholders and sponsors to identify specific opportunities in the organization for the group's services

• Portfolio Management: ongoing management of the group's portfolio of projects along with the pipeline of forecasted projects to ensure strategic alignment of work, appropriate resourcing and timing; usually performed by the group leader in collaboration with business stakeholders

There is no dominant methodology employed by internal consulting groups to acquire, evaluate and prioritize project opportunities. There is a correlation, however, between the breadth of services offered and the extent to which groups undertake ad hoc project work. Groups that center themselves on a specific process or capability (e.g., Talent Management), are typically not asked by their clients to perform ad hoc work, or are better able to refer this work to another group/vendor. Similarly, groups focusing on ROI or cost-improvement are also able to make project acceptance and prioritization dependent upon dollar/cost impact.

Successful internal consulting services group leaders develop a pipeline of projects with senior leadership, through their sponsors and / or participation on strategy councils. Many groups also benefit from performing a periodic Opportunity Assessment with their business clients. A rigorous portfolio management process ensures the group is working on projects that have significant impact on the business, and that those projects make good use of the group's competencies.

• IC Group Strategy & Planning

• Program Management Framework

• Portfolio Planning Worksheet