Our Methodology
How we approach every engagement, regardless of type.
Our engagements are structured, not open-ended. Each type has a fixed scope agreed before work begins, and a fixed fee attached to that scope. We do not extend without agreement, and we do not add phases that were not discussed at the outset.
The work begins with a conversation — usually an exchange of correspondence followed by a short call — in which we establish whether the engagement is suited to the matter at hand. Some matters we decline; others we take on with a clear statement of what we will and will not address.
Delivery takes the form of a written document. Depending on the engagement type, that may be a fifteen-to-twenty page sector reading, a memorandum ready for internal circulation, or a series of written notes produced over the course of a standing arrangement. In each case, the deliverable is something you can read, revisit, and share.
Initial conversation
Brief, without obligation. We establish fit before proceeding.
Scope agreed in writing
What we will address and what we will not, clearly stated.
Research and drafting
Done by the principals. Rigorous, sourced, and qualified where appropriate.
Written delivery
Delivered at the agreed time. One follow-up session included.
Engagement 01
Sector Reading Engagement
A four-week engagement in which we read into a particular sector or sub-sector on behalf of a client preparing to commit capital, talent, or operational attention. The deliverable is a written reading — fifteen to twenty pages — that sets out what the sector looks like to a careful outside observer, including its incumbents, its quieter constraints, and the reasonable expectations a new entrant should hold. Suitable for firms considering a substantive new line of business.
What the reading covers
- Incumbent landscape: who is operating, at what scale, with what apparent positioning
- Regulatory and institutional constraints that bear on a new entrant
- Demand-side characteristics and the nature of competition for clients or customers
- Reasonable expectations for a firm entering the sector with adequate resources
- Areas of genuine uncertainty, stated as such
Process
Initial brief: client describes the sector and the decision context
Scope confirmed in writing; engagement fee agreed
Four-week research and drafting period
Written reading delivered; follow-up session scheduled
Fee
MYR 1,090
Engagement 02
Internal Memorandum Drafting
An assignment in which we draft, on behalf of leadership, a substantive internal memorandum on a matter of consequence to the firm — strategy, structure, succession, or a decision the leader wishes to communicate carefully. We work from interviews with the principal and any documents they share, and produce a draft suitable for circulation to a board, a partnership, or a senior team. The work is confidential and credited to the leader, not to us.
Suitable for
- Strategic decisions a leader needs to communicate with precision
- Succession or structural changes that require careful framing
- Matters with internal political dimensions where the leader's voice needs to be clear
- Board communications that must anticipate and address likely objections
Process
Briefing interview with the principal (one to two hours)
Review of any documents the principal shares
First draft delivered; reviewed with the principal
Final draft delivered, ready for circulation
Fee
MYR 640
Engagement 03
Twelve-Month Advisory Arrangement
A standing advisory relationship for senior leaders who would value continuity over the course of a calendar year. The arrangement comprises a half-day on-site review each quarter, monthly remote conversations of one hour, and informal availability between scheduled meetings for matters that warrant a dispassionate view. Renewed by mutual agreement. Suitable for managing partners, family principals, and senior leaders newly into role.
What the arrangement includes
- Four half-day on-site reviews, one per quarter
- Twelve one-hour remote conversations, one per month
- Informal availability between sessions for matters that arise
- Written summaries following each quarterly session
- Annual review and renewal by mutual agreement
Suited to
Managing partners who want a standing outside perspective without the formality of a board relationship. Family principals navigating inter-generational transitions. Senior leaders newly into role who would benefit from continuity of counsel over the first year.
Fee
MYR 2,280 / year
Fees at a Glance
Fixed fees in Malaysian Ringgit. Agreed before work begins.
Sector Reading
MYR 1,090
Per engagement · Four weeks
- 15–20 page written reading
- Sector and sub-sector scope
- Follow-up session included
- Fixed fee, no hourly billing
Memorandum Drafting
MYR 640
Per assignment · Two to three weeks
- Briefing interview with principal
- Board or partnership-ready draft
- Full confidentiality assured
- Credited to the leader
Twelve-Month Advisory ★
MYR 2,280
Per year · Renewable by agreement
- Quarterly half-day on-site
- Monthly one-hour remote session
- Informal availability year-round
- Written quarterly summaries
Decision Guide
Selecting the engagement suited to your situation.
| Feature | Sector Reading | Memo Drafting | Advisory Arrangement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written deliverable | |||
| On-site presence | — | — | |
| Continuity over a year | — | — | |
| For a specific decision | — | ||
| For ongoing challenges | — | — | |
| Best for | New business entry decisions | Communication to board or partners | Leaders needing a standing sounding board |
Standards Across All Engagements
Confidentiality
All client communications and deliverables are held permanently in confidence.
Principal delivery
Senior advisors carry out the work. No delegation without client agreement.
Sourced work
All assertions are sourced or noted as inference. We do not confuse market sentiment for evidence.
Independence
No financial interest in sectors we read or decisions we advise on. Fixed fee only.
Not certain which engagement fits?
Write to us briefly about the matter you are facing. We will tell you which engagement is suited to it, or whether none of them are.