The challenge

Maintaining a staff of operating partners with specialized experience is helpful, but this model may not deliver the performance you need.

This model can also be very expensive — especially if they are not leveraged across the portfolio.

Firms retaining a staff of operating partners may find themselves limited by a reliance on individual advisors. Many advisors depend on their own personal playbook and expertise when a fresh viewpoint on the industry or function may provide a catalyst for growth and improvement. It’s also hard to go it alone, and additional skills and staff can help to drive strategies and organizational change.

Even with the best advisors, firms typically act without the benefit of formal systems, skills, staff and support infrastructure to promote repeatable performance and institutional learning at the portfolio company operating level.