When to Hire-or Not Hire-a Consultant:Getting Your Money's Worth from Consulting Relationships
is a hands-on practical guide for anyone thinking about hiring a consultant to set strategy
solve problems increase profits or revenue develop new products open new markets or improve
efficiency. Consulting is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States.
According to the U.S. government there were 719 000 consultants in the U.S. in 2010 and you
can expect an additional 274 000 by 2020. Cloaked in expert status consultants might seem to
be the answer to many business problems. You call someone in to solve a particular problem or
develop new markets then send them away once the job is done-while reaping the benefits of
their expertise. Consultants sometimes do work miracles but once in a while they wreck a
healthy business. And far too often the benefits gained by calling in consultants disappear
far too soon after they leave. Yet as return on investment (ROI) and accountability for results
become bigger and bigger issues business professionals in search of answers to performance or
strategy challenges are turning more and more to outside guidance for help. Indeed few
businesses do not use some kind of consultant at some point in their existence. But how can you
leverage the skills consultants can bring to the table without adding undue risk to your
operations? How can you effectively manage the consultant relationship to get the greatest
benefit for the least cost? What metrics can support your decision to hire-or not hire-a
consultant? When should you use home-grown talent to solve problems instead? That's what this
book is all about. While there are a multitude of books on how to be a consultant this is the
first to help an executive determine when to hire one. You will learn strategies to decide when
a consultant is needed and how to support that decision with hard evidence how to selectthe
right consultant how to set clear expectations and how to know when a consultant is either a
valuable resource or a hindrance to the company's success. The authors of this book bring
together two opposing perspectives. Linda Orr has served as a consultant in many companies and
situations while Dave Orr has hired consultants many times. Together they can help you make
the most strategically and financially sound business decisions. This books shows you how to:
Work through ROI and other issues to support a decision to hire a consultant. Maximize the
benefits consultants can provide. Explore options other than hiring a consultant.
