JOB DESCRIPTION FOR 1171

• Request credentials and bio-sheets of the consultant’s staff members who will be assigned to your company;

• Have the consultant or his firm prepare a detailed costing sheet with time frames and results that will be measured at the end of the consultancy period. Ask for a list of expenses that will be incurred and justification for these expenses;

• Require a full report or intermittent reports for each phase of the project; • Discuss and negotiate fees for potential repeat business (if you think another department is on schedule for changes, ask the consultant if he would charge a reduced fee for taking on another department);

1. • Specify the number of “one-on-one” meetings with the consultant to thoroughly discuss progress of the project; • Finalize, in advance, what outcomes are expected and when they will be delivered;
2. • If the consultant gives you the option to “kill” the project at midstream (you’re dissatisfied, there are budget constraints, a merger is pending) negotiate the kill fee. Even large companies need help.
3. When a company is in dire need of change, it seeks help when internal resources are not considered sufficient. They explore the possibility of engaging consultants who can recommend ways to bring about desired changes.

The resolution to seek outside help is explained by current thinking that a consultant can take a more objective view of the problems plaguing the organization. A second reason is that companies lack the expertise required to implement changes. Business consultants with several years’ experience on the field are also able to draw from past sessions spent in other companies that operate in a variety of industry sectors. The expertise of consultants even becomes more valuable when they have worked globally.

Of course there’s a price to pay for good service. Some companies are fortunate enough to find the right profile consultant the first time; others, however, go through a hit-and-miss process until they find the most suitable one.

Looking for a Needle in a Haystack.