What is a Consultant?
WORK IN PROGRESS
To consult means to "provide advice," as in obtaining advice from an accountant or an attorney. A good consultant should be considered an "expert", based on his or her training, experience, depth and breadth of knowledge.
My definition: A consultant is usually someone from outside the client organization. Someone who listens to the clients needs, studies the clients current situation and advises the client on his/her opinions of how best to fulfill those needs.
Much like accountants and lawyers, consultants are paid for their knowledge and experience and not so much as a laborer. Organizations hire consultants for various reasons but the most prominent reasons are that the company does not have the time to perform extensive research, testing, and possibly, the know-how to accomplish a goal within a reasonable period of time. The value of a consultant therefore is time. The consultant will save the organization time which should lead to also saving the organization money.
How do you pick one consultant over another and how can you tell which one is better?
Ah, the questions most organizations must eventually obviously decide. The answer however is not so obvious. It seems that anyone who can perform a specific task is now considered an expert and therefore feels he/she should be considered a consultant.
EXAMPLE: I'm not very good with designing web pages that utilize .asp protocols. While there is no reason in the world I couldn't buy a book, take a class, or simply attempt to modify some of those free .asp scripts, I just don't have the time to do any of those other alternatives. So, I hire someone who can perform those .asp tasks that are beyond my current programming capabilities.
The person I hired to perform the above tasks is not necessarily a consultant but more of a laborer with a specific skill that I do not currently possess. However, many times those that can perform certain tasks consider themselves as consultants, some of which are rightly so but others are not. Meaning-this person may consider them self as a .asp consultant but not necessarily a web designing consultant because they would lack the .php, xhtml, SQL or many of the other flavors of a web designer.
With WISP consultants, the same holds true. Much like you wouldn't hire a divorce lawyer after being arrested, you shouldn't hire just any-ole wireless consultant. Clients should understand the consultants knowledge and experience specifically in the areas the client needs assistance with.
Top 10 List of Questions Before Hiring a Wireless Consultant
1. Do you need a Consultant? - Lack of knowledge or skills along with the lack of time to learn them are the most prevalent reasons to hire a consultant.
2. What is the roll of the Consultant? - Understanding the role of the consultant is critical for both the consultant and the client.
3. What is the level of expertise required of the Consultant? - Consultants vary greatly in their level of expertise.
4. What are the Consultant's references saying? - Although references are a valuable tools when selecting a consultant, they are often overlooked or ignored.
5. Will the Consultant respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP)? - This is a more formalized way of selecting a consultant.
6. Can you interview the Consultant candidates? - Interveiws are critical when selecting a consultant. DO NOT skip this step in the selection process.
7. Will there be a contract? - It is highly recommended that a contract and contract provisions are set forth up front.
8. What are the costs of hiring a Consultant? - WISPs are frugal. They can not afford costly mistakes so the cost of hiring a consultant is extremely important in the decision making process but it must be measured against what you are buying from the Consultant.
Differing Points of View:
Client -
a. The client wants to pay the least amount of money as possible.
b. The client doesn't want to pay a lot up front for fear of not getting
their moneys worth.
c.
Consultant -
a. The consultant wants to make as much money as possible.
b. The consultant will need a retainer for fear of not getting paid after
the work is done.
c.
9. What are some other considerations? -
10. What are your expectations when the job is done? -
To consult means to "provide advice," as in obtaining advice from an accountant or an attorney. A good consultant should be considered an "expert", based on his or her training, experience, depth and breadth of knowledge.
My definition: A consultant is usually someone from outside the client organization. Someone who listens to the clients needs, studies the clients current situation and advises the client on his/her opinions of how best to fulfill those needs.
Much like accountants and lawyers, consultants are paid for their knowledge and experience and not so much as a laborer. Organizations hire consultants for various reasons but the most prominent reasons are that the company does not have the time to perform extensive research, testing, and possibly, the know-how to accomplish a goal within a reasonable period of time. The value of a consultant therefore is time. The consultant will save the organization time which should lead to also saving the organization money.
How do you pick one consultant over another and how can you tell which one is better?
Ah, the questions most organizations must eventually obviously decide. The answer however is not so obvious. It seems that anyone who can perform a specific task is now considered an expert and therefore feels he/she should be considered a consultant.
EXAMPLE: I'm not very good with designing web pages that utilize .asp protocols. While there is no reason in the world I couldn't buy a book, take a class, or simply attempt to modify some of those free .asp scripts, I just don't have the time to do any of those other alternatives. So, I hire someone who can perform those .asp tasks that are beyond my current programming capabilities.
The person I hired to perform the above tasks is not necessarily a consultant but more of a laborer with a specific skill that I do not currently possess. However, many times those that can perform certain tasks consider themselves as consultants, some of which are rightly so but others are not. Meaning-this person may consider them self as a .asp consultant but not necessarily a web designing consultant because they would lack the .php, xhtml, SQL or many of the other flavors of a web designer.
With WISP consultants, the same holds true. Much like you wouldn't hire a divorce lawyer after being arrested, you shouldn't hire just any-ole wireless consultant. Clients should understand the consultants knowledge and experience specifically in the areas the client needs assistance with.
Top 10 List of Questions Before Hiring a Wireless Consultant
1. Do you need a Consultant? - Lack of knowledge or skills along with the lack of time to learn them are the most prevalent reasons to hire a consultant.
2. What is the roll of the Consultant? - Understanding the role of the consultant is critical for both the consultant and the client.
3. What is the level of expertise required of the Consultant? - Consultants vary greatly in their level of expertise.
4. What are the Consultant's references saying? - Although references are a valuable tools when selecting a consultant, they are often overlooked or ignored.
5. Will the Consultant respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP)? - This is a more formalized way of selecting a consultant.
6. Can you interview the Consultant candidates? - Interveiws are critical when selecting a consultant. DO NOT skip this step in the selection process.
7. Will there be a contract? - It is highly recommended that a contract and contract provisions are set forth up front.
8. What are the costs of hiring a Consultant? - WISPs are frugal. They can not afford costly mistakes so the cost of hiring a consultant is extremely important in the decision making process but it must be measured against what you are buying from the Consultant.
Differing Points of View:
Client -
a. The client wants to pay the least amount of money as possible.
b. The client doesn't want to pay a lot up front for fear of not getting
their moneys worth.
c.
Consultant -
a. The consultant wants to make as much money as possible.
b. The consultant will need a retainer for fear of not getting paid after
the work is done.
c.
9. What are some other considerations? -
10. What are your expectations when the job is done? -