The Trojan Assessment
Warden Consulting’s trojan business assessors provide accurate, real-time information to diagnose issues and identify opportunities. Make changes based on facts, not theories.
As Featured By
No MISINTERPRETED data, MANAGEMENT fads or impractical recommendations
Warden’s assessors get inside your business to identify operational bottlenecks, value drivers, staff performance, company culture and compliance issues.
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Over 40 years Experience
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50+ Assessments
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Over $10 million saved
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Assessments in 5 Countries
Warden consulting trojan business assessments
In today's complex and competitive business landscape, gaining deep insights into the inner workings of an organization is crucial for effective decision-making and strategic planning.
Consultants play a pivotal role in offering expert advice and recommendations to businesses, drawing from their expertise and analytical skills.
— However, there are situations where traditional methods of data collection and analysis may fall short in providing the comprehensive understanding needed to drive lasting change. This is where Warden Consulting’s trojan business assessments can prove invaluable.
Warden Consulting businesses assessors are employed covertly – only select members of management are informed of the project. Their job is to gather information on all aspects of the business.
— The value of our business assessments is that they provide management with accurate, live, raw data.
This applies to assessments we operate in conjunction with management consultants: first-hand data results in precise diagnoses and game-changing recommendations.
Challenges we resolve
Biased insights, diluted information
Unlike projects conducted through traditional investigations and management consultancies, trojan assessments are conducted covertly, reducing the possibility of employees distorting the facts, changing their behaviour or concealing issues.
Managers may dilute the true reality of the business: they don't want to appear incompetent, so they provide biased information. While consultants may fail to conduct primary research or verify the accuracy of the data.
Disconnectedness
Often a businesses greatest resources is its people, especially those who work on the frontlines every day. They possess a wealth of knowledge and insights but often the conditions for communicating them are not realised.
Wardens assessors bridge unfiltered knowledge and information from any level of the organization directly to management. By working alongside key personnel, they gain real time access to workplace dynamics, and pinpoint areas for system enhancement and improvement.
Lack of Understanding of Client's Business
Consultants may have an insufficient understanding of the client's industry, culture, or specific challenges — which can lead to ineffective solutions. Drawing from past involvement in similar companies and direct engagement within your organization, our assessors provide essential guidance and insights.
Overemphasis on Standard Solutions
Some consultants may rely too heavily on pre-packaged solutions rather than tailoring their approach to the unique needs of your business.
Having a covert business assessor is the most effective way to gain a complete overview of the business because the information is gathered from within the organization — but the source is external and unbiased. This results in tailored rationalization and optimization.
Trojan Assessment Process
Assessor Selection & Training: Our assessors undergo rigorous training to ensure they possess the necessary skills and expertise for the assessment project.
Recruitment and Training: Assessors are employed in the business without arousing suspicion. They record how the employment and training processes function. Often the assessor is paired with an operator who oversees every step of the project.
Consultant Collaboration: Depending on the project's requirements, we may collaborate with management or strategy consultancies to align objectives and streamline processes, ensuring the optimal outcome for our clients.
Data Collection & Communication: Assessors record daily notes, capturing all pertinent information, which is shared with clients on a daily basis. We analyze the data to identify patterns, misconduct and areas for improvement.
Testing: A key benefit of having an assessor working covertly in the business is that they can observe first-hand how staff and systems respond to changes in processes and or regulations.
Recommendations: Following thorough assessment and analysis, detailed reports covering insights and recommendations are provided to management.
Implementation: Our assessors remain in the organization for as long as necessary to ensure seamless execution of recommendations and to provide ongoing support.
Capabilities
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Operations
Identify inefficiencies, streamline processes, and optimize resource allocation to maximize productivity and minimize costs.
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People and Culture
Success depends on one essential resource — your people. Our business assessors identify employee performance, conduct, and gauge cultural dynamics.
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Compliance
Ensure your company is complying with health and safety standards, environmental regulations and all other legal obligations.
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Security Consulting
Assessors evaluate current security measures and create plans to make them stronger and more effective in protecting valuable assets.
_Operations
Operational Optimization
By analyzing systems and processes, assessors pinpoint areas where operations are slowing down or hindering productivity. Through direct observations, they offer insights into optimizing bottlenecks, such as restructuring workflows, reallocating resources, or implementing new technologies to streamline operations.
Customer Experience
Assessors can interact with employees, assess response times, evaluate product knowledge, and provide feedback on the overall customer experience.
Identifying Training Needs
By closely observing employee performance and engagement, assessors can identify areas where additional training and skill development are required. They provide feedback on the standard of existing training initiatives and recommend improvements or expansions to better meet the needs of the workforce.
_People and Culture
Workplace Bullying & HR
Assessors objectively record instances of employee harassment, discrimination, or unethical behavior. They also observe how HR handles employee issues, grievances, and conflicts, providing insights into the responsiveness of HR policies.
Employee Performance Evaluation
The assessor evaluates employee performance by closely scrutinizing productivity, management ability, communication, and adherence to company protocols. By identifying high-performing individuals and those potentially hindering company progress, assessors offer crucial insights to management, aiding in the restructuring process.
Cultural Assessment
Assessors learn about company culture, including communication patterns, teamwork dynamics, and employee morale. They evaluate how HR practices and organizational policies shape the overall culture, identifying strengths and weaknesses.
_Compliance
Health and Safety
Assessors observe adherence to safety protocols, identify potential hazards and evaluate the effectiveness of health and safety policies in ensuring a safe working environment. Any breaches that occur are recorded and communicated to management.
Environmental
Depending on the business, assessors monitor compliance with environmental regulations, evaluating waste management practices, monitoring pollution control measures and identifying opportunities for sustainable practices.
_Theft Prevention and Security Consulting
Inventory Management
Assessors gain insights into inventory management practices by identifying misappropriation of inventory and potential weaknesses in security protocols.
Fraud and Misconduct Detection
Assessors record incidents of worksite theft, timesheet fraud, embezzlement, espionage, bribery, or conflicts of interest.
Security Consulting
Depending on the business, assessors play a vital role in enhancing a company's security measures. Recommendations can be made about how to upgrade CCTV systems, improve security personnel or enhance employee training.
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Mark van Leewarden
Founder & MD
Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court, Mark (“Emu”) is a former agent and was an instructor on three New Zealand Police undercover seminars. He went undercover in the New Zealand Police at age 19.
Mark would go on to earn honors in his law degree before starting Warden Consulting in 1995. Working across all aspects of the business, he has overseen over 100 projects from sourcing, screening and training assessors to operating, optimizing and securing the assignments.
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Ben van Leewarden
General Manager
Ben (“Snake”), is a licensed private investigator with over eight years experience in international fraud, surveillance and undercover operations. Ben brings true international experience to the company having operated the business in Amsterdam, New York, London and Mexico City. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree from Victoria University in Wellington.
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JAMES CUNNINGHAM
James Cunningham MA (Hons), PG. Dip. Clin Psych, MNZCCP, MASSBI, MINS brings over two decades of expertise in clinical psychology. James specializes in evaluating the psychological wellness and functionality of assessors, while also contributing in ways to maximize their potential.
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Andrea Tomba
Andrea holds a BA (Hons) in Business Studies from the University of Westminster. He is fluent in Italian, French, Swedish, English, and Spanish. He has lived in Mexico for the last 25 years. Andrea's diverse skill set and global perspective are key assets for our international operations.
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DENNIS PARSONS
Consultant
Dennis is an expert forensic accountant, certified fraud examiner (USA), and licensed insolveny practitioner (NZ) who has undertaken hundreds of forensic accounting investigations of companies and individuals in both civil and criminal cases. He provides expert advice and consultation services to a number of government agencies in relation to civil and criminal investigations and related regulatory matters. -
Ainsley Bisset
Operations
Ainsley ("Ladybird"), started her career in the Police. She was a member of the Diplomatic Protection Squad, protecting high profile dignitaries and politicians including Princess Diana. Ainsley oversees all major undercover operations, conducting research and organizing backend logistics. She has also provides protection and care of Warden undercover agents.
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Denise Graham
Office Manager
Denise ("Diesel") is our Office Manager and has been with Warden since 2006. She manages each and every detail of our day-to-day business. Diesel came to us following a long and varied career in the legal sectors, commencing work at the Magistrates Court in Auckland and subsequently working for Barristers, Queen’s Counsel and law firms in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.
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Assessors
Warden Consutling has a pool of assessors that can work across most industries. Not only are they experienced in their respective fields, they are also expert covert assessors, adept at navigating complex scenarios and extracting vital information. With prior experience in comparable companies and firsthand involvement within your organization, our assessors are well-equipped to deliver expert guidance and insights.
cases
Due to confidentiality we cannot disclose the majority of our assessment projects. If you are seriously interested in our services we can connect you with our past clients.
Operation Hunter
Beware of the Enemy Within — New Zealand Herald
Post Theft Raids Leads To Arrests — New Zealand Herald
Couriers Caught in Sting Operation — Ashburton Guardian
Australia Post Case:
get in contact
All communications are strictly confidential.
Multi-divisional international food company
“WE HAVE USED WARDEN CONSULTING assessors ON A CONTINUING BASIS FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. THEY HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR BUSINESS NATIONWIDE. WE ESTIMATE THE VALUE TO OUR BUSINESS AS NINE TIMES THE COST WE INVEST.”
National Manager | New Zealand Post
“Your team's professionalism, commitment and integrity were to the highest of standards. we found you totally flexible and willing to accommodate our needs. Your help with strategic direction throughout the operation was invaluable. The results were outstanding.”
CEO | International Freight Company
