M E M B E R S H I P   

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Comparative Charts

1. WSG v. Internal Growth and Merger Strategies
2. WSG v. Single Profession Network Model
3. WSG v. Ancillary or Related Business Model

1. World Services Group (MDO) v. Internal Growth or Merger Strategies

Feature World Services Group Internal or Merger Strategy
Members Leading service providers in all disciplines No members
Number of Services 40+ Growth unlimited. 10+ Growth limited to specific services by economics, regulatory and ethical issues.
Management Members Home Office
Meetings Yes Yes
Publications Yes – Directed to clients and potential clients Yes
Information Database Yes -All professionals listed. New contacts can be easily added. Yes
Number of Professionals 50,000+ - New organizations can be easily added in less than a day no matter what the size. Based upon size of company or firm
Ethical Issues None Significant - Each professional organization governed by different laws and regulations. In addition there are conflicts of interest and confidentiality issues.
Regulatory Issues None Significant – Many ethical and SEC issues arising out of Enron Andersen.
Client Participation Yes No - Clients do not have access to the list of professional services or professionals.
Marketing Yes – Focused. Yes – Extensive.
Global Yes - Global for all services Yes - Global for primary services.
Local Yes – Local everywhere. Yes  - Local for some services.
Quality Standards Yes – Set by Policy Board. Yes
Website Yes - Contains information on each of the members and the professionals. Yes - Contains only information on the firms buy usually very difficult to find the right professional.
Expansion Yes No -New services can be added but this requires internal development. Expansion can be very costly.

2. World Services Group (MDO) v. A Comparison with Single Profession Networks.

Feature World Service Group Single Profession Networks
Members Leading service providers in all disciplines Only one profession.
Meetings Multidisciplinary Meetings will provide introductions to many different businesses so that business develop is increased geometrically. One Professions Since each business competes with each other, the amount of referrals can be somewhat limited.
Committees Multidisciplinary The opportunity to systematically meet other professionals who recommend lawyers and law firms to their clients. One Profession.
New Member Review Strict criteria.

document-membership.asp 		Varies.
Firms Top service organizations are members. The service providers may be global, regional or local depending on the type of service being provided. Top Firms The firms are generally local but there are a number of regional firms and global firms.
Marketing 60% of budget allocated to marketing.  The marketing committee will go directly to the Fortune 500 companies to explain the services that are available. Less than 10% of budget. No direct marketing in most cases.
Common database Database with a desktop program that allows members to manage their practices. The database will be used for selecting the right professional from among the members in the exact location. None No commitment to common technology. Most use printed or on-line directories with limited information
Client Access to Professionals Database interface to clients, which will have a desktop application that finds members of WSG only. No Significant Access Clients receive directories and can use the Internet site.
Resources Unlimited Global Resources Given the size of the service firms and their global reach, unlimited resources are available. Limited to One Profession.
Board of Directors Multidisciplinary This will allow WSG members the advantage of getting the input of different professional groups, which is very important in strategic planning. One Profession.
Coordinated Marketing Projects High Priority  More professionals with greater resources. A systematic approach is possible given the existing contacts of the members. None
Referral Base 50,000+ professionals The referral base can grow rapidly as new services are added. Corporate clients can also become part of the referral base. One profession  Referral base cannot grow because there are no new members possible in most networks.
Assistance Multidisciplinary Assistance on any issue for clients. One Profession only.
Global Complete Global coverage for all services One profesion only Coverage depends on the size of the network and its purpose.
Local Complete local coverage for all services One profession only Coverage depends on the size of the network and its purpose.
Strategic Planning View Market as a whole.  Balanced because each group must be provided a benefit. View Market from perspective of leaders This may be very different then that of a majority of the members.
Budget 5 times larger then law firm networks - Each unit/entity pays a fee based upon size of the organization. As new services are added the budget size increases without increases to existing members. Varies.
Dues Reasonable - Other members also contribute to dues pool. As new services are added the budget size increases without dues increases to existing members. Varies but can be very costly.
Can be of assistance in competition? Can assist - Since the size and scope of WSG will be larger and offer higher quality services than those that could be offered by a single entity, each member will be able to offer their clients the services of the other members. Limited to Assistance in One Profession
Expansion Unlimited Potential Limited
Ethics Complies with all ethical rules and regulations. Complies with legal profession rules.
Exclusive/Non-Exclusive Non-Exclusive Firms can have other relationships. The technology accounts for these relationships through individualization of the database. Exclusive Firms receive an exclusive territory or service. Non-Exclusive.
Regulatory Issues None None.
Management Members Supplemented by professional staff. Members.

3. MDO v. Ancillary or Related Businesses Model

Feature MDO Ancillary Business
Members Leading services providers in all disciplines and professions. Owned by the firm.
Number of Services 40+ Services Growth unlimited because new professions can be added both geographically and by area of practice. 1-3 Services Limited by what is manageable and will provide the greatest benefit.
Management Members. Independent Group.
Meetings Yes. Yes.
Publications Yes Directed to clients and potential clients Yes.
Information Database Yes All professionals listed. New contacts can be easily added. Yes But limited to the firm.
Number of Professionals 50,000+ New organizations can be easily added. 1-20.
Ethical Issues None. Depends on the jurisdiction
Regulatory Issues None. Depends on the jurisdiction
Client Participation Yes. No Clients do not have access to the list of professional services or professionals.
Marketing Yes Focused. Yes Depends on the firm and jurisdiction.
Global Yes, Global for all services No Generally local but sometimes national.
Local Yes Local everywhere in the world. Yes Local generally for a single jurisdiction.
Quality Standards Yes Set by Policy Board Yes.
Website Yes Contains information on each of the members and the professionals. Depends.
Expansion Yes, Unlimited. No New services can be added but this requires internal development. In most cases firms have limited resources or there are already much larger companies meeting the need.



    


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