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About Upstream Management Solutions 

Upstream Management Solutions (UMS) is a boutique management consulting company founded by Jordan Max and offering our five PULSE pillars of excellence, experience, and expertise:

  • Policy Research, Development & Analysis

  • User Experience/Human Centered Design

  • Learning & Development

  • Strategy/Strategic Planning

  • Engaging Stakeholders & Partners.

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Our work includes reviews, environmental scans, analysis, advice, reports, and plans, as well as "in-house" training for staff and volunteers. ​ We help broader public sector organizations to achieve their mandates by solving their toughest challenges by going "upstream" to the source, instead of focusing on symptoms.  No project or engagement is too small, and we have very reasonable rates for not-for-profit organizations.   

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UMS specializes in advising: 

  • Federal, provincial and municipal governments

  • Profession-regulating and other regulatory bodies

  • Hospitals, universities and colleges

  • Agencies and special purpose bodies

  • Member associations

  • Non-profit organizations

 

Upstream Management Solutions is registered as a SAP Ariba (Business Discovery Network) Supplier for Canada and  the City of Toronto

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About Jordan Max

Jordan is a creative, energetic, innovative and interdisciplinary leader in policy, strategy and learning development professional.  He has over 25 years of high-quality performance within the broader public sector, including the Ontario Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Community and Social Services, and Professional Engineers Ontario.

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He understands the complex jurisdictions, governing legislation, and political dimensions in the broader public sector to deliver effective and durable solutions.  

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Jordan uses a diverse toolbox including design thinking, agile project management, behavioural science, qualitative and quantitative research, adaptability, strategic thinking, change management, stakeholder engagement, risk management, collaboration, crowdsourcing and others to solve challenging problems. 

 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Planning degrees, and certificates in Adult Education and Training, Design Thinking, Change Management, Innovation Management, and Mediation.  

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Our Consulting Approach

Holistic & System-oriented

  • We approach each project by first understanding it within its current ecosystem, users, history, and the pushes and pulls to yield insights and opportunities. We strive for holistic, system-oriented solutions that are durable because they capture all of the critical change variables.    

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Collaborating with clients to develop their future capacity 

  • We believe that consulting is best performed when working collaboratively with clients who are the subject matter experts and deliver the solutions long after the contract has ended.  We believe in helping clients to improve their own capacities through the consulting engagement.

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Critical questioning and analysis

  • We will ask questions to challenge assumptions and test out theories or opinions, with evidence.  We think strategically about everything, to know where things are going or likely to take us. We believe that frank and honest conversation produces better solutions and fewer surprises down the road.

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​Straightforward & Practical solutions

  • We won’t inundate you with fancy jargon and complicated methodology. Our goal is to work with you to create practical solutions that are clearly communicated, implementable, and can be evaluated easily. 

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​​Going the Extra Mile

  • We won’t upsell you for services or advice you don’t need.  We will strive to over-deliver and provide added value by suggesting improvements or things to ponder, now or in the future.

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