Be Prepared
No consultant can figure out what you want without your help. A good consultant can translate your needs into a technical solution, but they can't read your mind. Have a detailed idea of the end goal of any IT project BEFORE you call a consultant. This will save you time (and money).
Be Consistent
Make sure that you have buy-in from your organization on what the end goal really is. When the president and the CFO can't agree on what the final product should look like, the project is doomed to fail.
Have a Budget
If a consultant asks you "How much do you have to spend?" don't always assume that they're trying to take advantage of you. Almost every project can be done in a variety of ways. A good consultant will scale the proposal to what you can afford. And they should give you at least 2 options - the Cadillac and the Yugo.
Use a Checklist for Rating the Consultants
The best way to find a consultant is to get a referral from a colleague or friend. But if you can't do that, you should ask each consultant the following questions:
1. How many fulltime employees are on your staff?
2. Do you have a support staff?
3. Can I visit your office?
4. How long have you been in business?
5. Do you have certifications?
6. Do you offer flat-fee pricing for support?
7. What are your rates?
8. Is it a blended rate?
9. Do you offer discounts for pre-payment?
10. Does your client agreement have a non-disclosure clause?
Contact us if you have more questions about hiring the right consultant.
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