Experts in their respective
fields with considerable knowledge and experience are referred to as
Consultants.Frequently,
outstanding consultants have a wide range of knowledge that not only enhances
their specific areas of expertise but also offers new alternatives to
additional situations.
Successfully working with
consultants entails several important aspects, the most important probably
being good communications. While good communications is important for any
business, with consultants it is essential. It is through these
communications that you relay your business needs to the consultant (and how in
turn, the consultant helps provide the solution). The success of almost
every project lies upon the understanding by the consultant of the company's
business and project goals. For this reason, you should know beforehand the
specific goals of what you want to accomplish. A detailed scope document
is usually very helpful. Furthermore, should the project go off track, a
project scope document will help pinpoint where the problems occurred and help
facilitate corrective measures.
Outstanding consultants can often
greatly enhance a project's scope since they possess specific expertise in
their area of specialty, substantial experience and significant general
knowledge. This combined expertise helps ensure that the design and
implementation is solid and meets all project goals and
specifications. This is particularly important when projects are asked to
perform under much greater stress or with many additional functions than what
was originally envisioned. I sometimes equate this to a building; if the
foundation is solid, many floors and features can be built upon
it. However, if the foundation is flawed, additional floors and features
can cause collapse - and the need for rework at a tremendous cost of time and
money.
You know your business and needs
better than the consultant. Whatever decisions and paths you take, you and
your business are the ones that have to live with it. Staying involved with the
project and retaining decision responsibility helps ensure that project goals
are understood and met. Finally, make sure you learn from the consultant.
Having the consultant explain certain aspects of what has been done and most
importantly, what you can do and need to do once the consultant is no longer
actively working on your project will great facilitate acceptance and use of
the completed project. Rated outstanding consultants can greatly help companies
and provide excellent value. Being able to work with them before, during and
after a project will help ensure long term success.
Avoiding the need to rework any
project positively effects productivity. Since reworking a project usually
incurs many additional expenses - sometimes more than double the initial cost -
and much extra work and lost time, it should be avoided, if
possible. First, it often requires the assembly of a new team or set of
experts - a painful and time consuming step. Second, it requires a new
assessment of the project design and plan, implementation, percentage of
completion including what still needs to be done, and what needs to be
fixed. Frequently, it is often cheaper and easier to start over than to
attempt to fix a major problem. Having to rework a project may also result
in additional complications and complexities particularly if it is subject to
outside influences. Furthermore, if there is a problem with the initial
design, subsequent changes or additions may not be possible without massive
revisions.
Rework should be avoided, if
possible. It can have many negative effects on a company's bottom line,
potentially reducing value and morale. Conversely, by carefully planning
and finding outstanding consultants, much rework and unnecessary tribulations
can be avoided while creating a foundation for excellent prodinst and enhanced
value.
