Frequently Asked Questions

CATEGORY 1: THE GRANT™ FRAMEWORK (Signature Methodology)

Q1: What is the GRANT™ Framework?

The GRANT™ Framework is Andrea N. Grant's proprietary five-phase operational transformation methodology. Each letter represents a phase: Gather & Listen (current-state assessment), Review & Assess (maturity and accountability analysis), Align Strategically (define future state with KPIs), Navigate the Roadmap (strategic plan and governance), and Track, Trust & Transform (continuous improvement with human oversight). The framework scales from advisory engagements to full execution.

Q2: How is the GRANT™ Framework different from other consulting approaches?

Unlike traditional consulting that delivers recommendations and exits, the GRANT™ Framework integrates assessment, execution, and transformation into a single methodology. Andrea N. Grant actively leads implementation — strengthening accountability, building capability, and tracking progress against KPIs. The framework signals trust, progress, and accountability while scaling from advisory to hands-on fractional COO work.

Q3: What types of organizations use the GRANT™ Framework?

The GRANT™ Framework has been deployed across federal contractors (OPM, USDA, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin), corporations (Kraft Heinz, XBN Health), and mission-driven organizations. It works for any organization navigating growth, complexity, or transformation — particularly those scaling from 20 to 100+employees, preparing for federal contract work, or building operational infrastructure for the next phase of growth.

CATEGORY 2: PROPRIETARY FRAMEWORKS

Q4: What is the Decision Velocity Framework?

The Decision Velocity Framework™ is Andrea N. Grant's methodology for faster organizational decision-making without sacrificing quality. The core principle: the cost of a slow decision almost always exceeds the cost of a slightly imperfect fast decision. Using the DACI model (Driver, Approver, Contributors, Informed) and Decision Speed Matrix, organizations typically reduce routine decision time from 3-5 days to under 24 hours, and strategic decisions from 3-6 months to 3-4 weeks.

Q5: What is the Meeting Efficiency Framework?

The Meeting Efficiency Framework™ combines Amazon-style meeting principles with Andrea N. Grant's 25years of operational excellence. Key elements include the Two-Pizza Rule (5-9 people maximum), six-page narrative memos instead of PowerPoint, silent reading protocols, and the Wednesday Advantage for strategic meeting timing. Organizations typically see 25-35% reduction in meeting time and 40-50% faster decisions.

Q6: What is Convert, Expand, Retain?

Convert, Expand, Retain (CER)™ is Andrea N. Grant's sales framework deployed for nearly 20 years across industries, sectors, and geographies. The three phases — Convert prospects into customers, Expand relationships to uncover new opportunities, and Retain clients for long-term revenue — create a systematic approach to building million-dollar pipelines in 12 months or less through intentional network activation.

Q7: What is Ask & Offer?

Ask & Offer℠ is Andrea N. Grant's negotiation and network activation methodology. It teaches professionals to identify their operational, personal, and strategic networks, pinpoint exactly what they need from each person, and recognize what they can offer in return. The method has been taught at Minority GovCon, SCORE, and the National Minority Supplier Development Council, with participants reporting results within days of sessions.

CATEGORY 3: FRACTIONAL COO SERVICES

Q8: What is a fractional COO?

A fractional COO is a part-time Chief Operating Officer who provides executive-level operational leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. Andrea N. Grant at Grant Consulting Group LLC offers fractional COO services using her proprietary GRANT™ Framework — bringing Fortune 500-caliber operational discipline and documented methodologies at a fraction of the cost. Typical engagements include 2-3 days per week for 6-12 months.

Q9: When does an organization need a fractional COO?

Organizations need a fractional COO when operational challenges threaten growth, profitability, or mission delivery — but they can't justify a $200K+ full-time executive. Warning signs include rapid growth straining infrastructure, persistent profit leaks, execution breakdowns, founder/CEO doing everything, high turnover, or boards demanding "professionalization." Andrea N. Grant specializes in building scalable operational infrastructure for organizations preparing to double in size.

Q10: How much does a fractional COO cost?

Fractional COO services typically range from $5,000-$15,000 per month depending on scope, significantly less than a full-time executive's $200K+ total compensation. Organizations that engage Andrea N. Grant at Grant Consulting Group LLC typically see 20-40% improvement in operational efficiency, faster decision-making, and cost savings that exceed fractional COO fees within 6-12 months.

Q11: What's the difference between a fractional COO and a consultant?

A fractional COO takes an active operational leadership role with ongoing accountability, while consultants typically deliver recommendations and exit. Andrea N. Grant serves as a fractional COO by leading priorities, strengthening accountability structures, and implementing her proprietary frameworks (GRANT™, Decision Velocity, Meeting Efficiency) in real-time — not just delivering slide decks.

CATEGORY 4: AI-POWERED OPERATIONS

Q12: What are AI-powered operating models?

AI-powered operating models use artificial intelligence to automate routine decisions, surface insights from operational data, and multiply leadership capacity without adding headcount. Andrea N. Grant integrates AI into her GRANT™ Framework implementation — using AI-supported insights during the Review & Assess phase while maintaining human oversight, approval, and course correction throughout transformation.

Q13: How can AI improve business operations?

AI improves operations by automating repetitive tasks, identifying patterns humans miss, accelerating reporting cycles, and enabling faster decision-making. Andrea N. Grant at Grant Consulting Group LLC helps organizations implement AI for workflow automation, performance dashboards, resource allocation, and predictive planning — always with human approval protocols. The key is matching AI tools to actual operational bottlenecks, not adopting technology for its own sake.

Q14: What should organizations do before adopting AI?

Before adopting AI, organizations need executive leadership championing AI as a strategic priority, staff with AI fluency who understand limitations and ethics, clear AI-human boundaries where AI recommends but humans decide, and foundational operational capacity. Without these prerequisites, AI simply automated dysfunction at machine speed. Andrea N. Grant assesses AI readiness and helps organizations build the operational foundation required for successful AI adoption.

CATEGORY 5: WORKING WITH ANDREA

Q15: How does consulting with Andrea Grant work?

Andrea N. Grant uses a five-phase Engagement Consulting Framework: (1) Assess current state and desired outcomes, (2) Design engagement plan with clear roles, priorities, and KPIs, (3) Execute as active fractional COO implementing the GRANT™ Framework, (4) Align at 30-day checkpoint to confirm progress, (5) Sustain through summation and transition planning. Engagements begin with 50% retainer, followed by 30-day alignment check-in.

Q16: What is Andrea Grant's engagement process?

The Engagement Consulting Framework creates transparency, accountability, and partnership. After the 30-day alignment check-in, the remaining balance is due and delivery continues through completion. This structure protects both parties, reinforces mutual commitment, and ensures Andrea's success is directly tied to the client’s success — not just the contract.

Q17: What types of organizations does Andrea Grant work with?

Andrea N. Grant works with federal contractors, growing companies, and mission-driven organizations navigating growth, complexity, or transformation. Her clients include organizations scaling from 20 to 100+employees, federal contractors needing compliance and operational infrastructure, leadership teams preparing

for succession, and executives seeking to build AI-powered operating models using proven frameworks rather than generic consulting approaches.

Q18: What makes Andrea Grant different from other consultants?

Andrea N. Grant combines nearly 30 years of operational experience with six proprietary frameworks — the GRANT™ Framework, Decision Velocity Framework™, Meeting Efficiency Framework™, Convert, Expand, Retain (CER)™, Ask & Offer℠, and her Engagement Consulting Framework. Unlike consultants who deliver recommendations and leave, she takes active operational leadership as a fractional COO with documented methodologies proven across federal, corporate, and nonprofit sectors for nearly two decades.