Consultants, or external resources, can play a critical role on important projects. But to be fair, a consultant is not always essential. And, there are times when an experienced consultant can be the difference between success and mediocrity (or even failure).
When should an organization consider hiring an outside consultant?
TSI believes there are 4 reasons to use a consultant, each adding different levels of value.
1. Capacity – Internal Team Needs More Bandwidth
Often an organization simply does not have excess capacity to get the incremental amount of work that is needed from a technology evaluation, significant process improvement, or change management project. While the current staff may be capable of doing the work, capacity is the lacking element that is resolved with the addition of one or more qualified consultants.
2. Project Requires Objectivity
Sometimes we get too close to a situation to be objective. This is human nature and something all of us struggle with. An external, unbiased consultant may be just “the thing” that a project needs to appease differing, at times conflicting, stakeholder needs and perspectives.
3. Internal Environment is Politically Charged
Projects that are high stakes, high risk and politically charged require a unique skill set to walk the precarious path fraught with risk. Often times, internal resources need to stay “at arm’s length” due to the political sensitivity and resulting risk to one’s career if the project does not meet expectations.
Here, a well-qualified outside consultant can provide value and a level of unbiased expertise, while allowing senior leaders some relief in taking on additional risk.
4. Work Calls for Specific Expertise
Experienced consultants typically get to see many more industries, organizational cultures, technologies and ways of working due to the nature of our work. This can be beneficial and helpful so an organization does not need to fumble through the learning curve associated with doing something for the first time.
An experienced consultant at TSI has mapped and improved hundreds of processes, managed dozens of projects, selected dozens of software products and implemented hundreds upon hundreds of recommendations.
Like hiring a tour guide that is familiar with a foreign city, a good consultant will take the best path and lighten your load during the journey to change while improving the odds of making the overall project a success.
TSI’s experienced team of consultants are asked to engage in projects that cover the spectrum from moderate to complex process improvement, organizational change management, and strategic technology selection and implementation. For more detailed information on the 4 reasons to use a consultant or to discuss further how TSI’s services can help your organization, fill out the contact form here.
