Our Engagements
Three ways to work
with Quillfern
Each engagement is scoped, priced, and written clearly before we begin. Choose the one that fits where your organisation is now.
← Back to HomeOur Methodology
How we approach culture advisory
Every Quillfern engagement follows the same underlying logic: observe before interpreting, write before presenting, and leave the organisation with something they can return to. We do not arrive with a predetermined model to impose on your culture. We arrive with structured questions, good listening, and a clear document format.
The three engagements below represent different points on a spectrum — from a one-off written observation to a nine-month advisory relationship. Each is complete in itself. Some organisations start with an Observation Note and return for the Retainer two years later. Others go straight to the Workshop. There is no required sequence.
Engagement 01
Culture Observation Note for SMEs
RM 560
A short engagement producing a written observation note on how a Malaysian small business currently feels to work in day-to-day. We run five staff conversations under shared written ground rules and produce a six-page observation document describing themes, language patterns, and meeting cadence.
The note is descriptive — you decide what to do with it. We do not conduct anonymous reporting beyond the scope agreed with leadership.
- Written ground rules agreed with leadership before any conversation begins
- Five scoped staff conversations
- Six-page written observation document
- Delivered within three to four weeks
Process steps
- 01 Briefing call and scope agreement
- 02 Written ground rules agreed and signed
- 03 Five staff conversations conducted
- 04 Thematic analysis and drafting
- 05 Internal review pass
- 06 Delivery of six-page written note
Engagement 02
Team Rituals Design Workshop
RM 2,300
A three-week engagement helping a Malaysian team design or refresh its regular working rituals — weekly stand-ups, monthly reviews, end-of-quarter retrospectives. Includes a written rituals reference and two facilitated workshops.
The work is general organisational design education. It is not a conflict resolution service or an HR intervention.
- Three-week engagement with structured milestones
- Two facilitated workshops with the relevant team leads
- Written rituals reference document — yours to keep and update
- Works in English, Bahasa Malaysia, or both
Process steps
- 01 Briefing call — current rituals audit conversation
- 02 Written scope and participant list confirmed
- 03 Workshop One — mapping current rituals and identifying gaps
- 04 Draft rituals reference prepared and shared
- 05 Workshop Two — testing and refining the new ritual design
- 06 Final written rituals reference delivered
Engagement 03
Workplace Culture Stewardship Retainer
RM 4,400 /month
A nine-month advisory retainer for established Malaysian firms with an internal people-and-culture lead. Cadence is monthly written reviews, fortnightly calls, and one in-person workshop per quarter.
The remit is general operational culture, written rituals, and meeting design. The retainer does not extend into individual employee-relations cases.
- Nine-month engagement — full seasonal arc
- Monthly written advisory review delivered on schedule
- Fortnightly advisory calls with named Quillfern adviser
- One in-person workshop per quarter (Klang Valley area)
- Best suited for firms with a dedicated people-and-culture function
Monthly cadence
- Wk 1 Fortnightly advisory call (60 min)
- Wk 2 Written advisory review prepared and sent
- Wk 3 Fortnightly advisory call (60 min)
- Qtr In-person workshop (half-day)
Decision Guide
Which engagement fits your situation?
| Feature | Observation Note | Rituals Workshop | Stewardship Retainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written deliverable | 6-page note | Rituals ref | Monthly review |
| Facilitated sessions | 2 workshops | Quarterly | |
| Regular advisory calls | Fortnightly | ||
| Duration | 3–4 weeks | 3 weeks | 9 months |
| Price | RM 560 | RM 2,300 | RM 4,400/mo |
Best for
Observation Note
SMEs that want to understand what their culture actually looks like before deciding what, if anything, to change. Good as a first engagement.
Best for
Rituals Workshop
Teams whose regular meetings and reviews have drifted, feel perfunctory, or whose rhythm no longer matches how the work actually flows.
Best for
Stewardship Retainer
Established firms with a people-and-culture function who want an external adviser with continuity and a written trail alongside them through a full business year.
Across All Engagements
Standards that apply to every piece of work
Data handling under PDPA
All staff conversation notes are handled in line with Malaysia's Personal Data Protection Act. Thematic documents do not include individually attributed quotes.
Written scope before start
Each engagement begins with a written scope document. No observation conversations happen before this document is agreed and signed by both parties.
Internal review on all outputs
Every written deliverable goes through an internal review pass before it is sent. We do not share first drafts with clients.
Scope discipline
We state clearly what each engagement does not cover. If a question falls outside scope, we say so rather than drift into territory that requires a different kind of professional.
Named adviser throughout
Work is not handed to junior staff after the briefing call. The lead adviser who scopes the engagement carries it through to delivery.
Two-business-day response
We respond to client queries within two business days throughout the engagement. For Retainer clients, the fortnightly call schedule provides a predictable touchpoint.
Pricing
Published prices, no hidden fees
Engagement 01
Culture Observation Note
RM 560
one-off engagement
- Five staff conversations
- Six-page written note
- Written ground rules document
- 3–4 week turnaround
Engagement 02
Team Rituals Workshop
RM 2,300
one-off engagement
- Two facilitated workshops
- Written rituals reference
- Three-week arc
- Language flexible
Engagement 03
Stewardship Retainer
RM 4,400
per month · nine-month minimum
- Monthly written review
- Fortnightly advisory calls
- Quarterly in-person workshop
- Named adviser throughout
Start Here
Not sure which engagement fits? Let's find out together.
A fifteen-minute call is usually enough to understand your situation and match you with the right engagement — or tell you honestly if none of them fits right now.
Request a Brief Call