Dealing with outside agencies like
Consultants, contractors etc…
Presented by:
Sajan Christudas
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CONSULTANT
CONSULTANT???
A consultant (from the Latin consultare means "to discuss"
from which we also derive words such as consul and counsel) is a
professional who provides professional or expert advice
A consultant sells advice and counsel for fees
Who sells his expertise in a specific area (or areas) to clients
Helps the clients in identify problems and solutions
Advising them on possible courses of action
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Consultants can work:
for large consulting firms;
for boutique firms (i.e. small specialized firms);
as independent contractors;
as contractors working within an organization where
some form of employer/employee relationship already
exists.
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Consultants are normally employed on a
contractual basis; however, within some firms,
consultants may be hired on a permanent basis
until their engagement is over.
Within small consulting firms, it is more likely
consultants will be hired as contractors, and their
employment will be terminated when the project
ends.
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Consultancy as a business:
It is important to remember that owning your own
consulting business is precisely that, owning a business.
This means you will need to go through the same start-
up processes that any other entrepreneur must go
through :
business registration, acquiring a business number,
dealing with business taxes, etc.
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What it takes to be a consultant
While becoming a consultant, you are starting a real business
which requires a complex blend of:
expertise – your unique skills are your business's products;
knowledge in business and management practices including
accounting, selling, organizational and time-management skills;
self-awareness, inner drive, perseverance, confidence, and the
ability and willingness to work independently for long hours, often
sacrificing personal time;
people skills, in order to establish, expand, and sustain client
relationships. You must be able to gain a thorough understanding
of a client's needs by being sensitive, perceptive, and an attentive
listener.
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Who Hires a Consultant?
• Business, government, and non-profit organizations hire
consultants for their expertise, and to help identify,
analyze, and solve problems.
• Consultants offer an 'outsiders' unbiased perspective, and
allow other employees to carry on with their daily
business.
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In general, consultants are hired to:
conduct research, analyze and summarize data, predict trends;
create or improve designs and processes; recommend changes;
evaluate designs and processes, communicate ideas, or motivate
employees;
identify ways to save money, or to obtain funding or financing.
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Multiple Roles & Level of Consultant Activity in
Problem Solving
ROLES ACTIVITIES
Reflector Raises questions for reflection
Process specialist Observes problem solving processes
and raises issues mirroring feedback
Fact finder Gathers data stimulates thinking
Alternative identifier Identifies alternatives & resources for
client and helps to assess
consequences
Collaborator in problem solving Offers alternatives &participates in
decisions
Trainer/educator Trains the client & designs learning
experience
Advocate Proposes guidelines, persuades, or
directs in the problem solving
process. 10
Contracts and Proposals
Consulting contracts may vary widely in their format and
their length, depending on the nature and the complexity
of the project
There are standard articles to include in written contracts:
the name and the location of the parties involved, the date
the contract is signed, an offer, an acceptance of the offer,
consideration, signatures of the parties, etc.
A written contract helps to avoid misunderstandings, to
outline the terms of payment and to protect you in case of
disagreements with your client on the nature of the
assignment.
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Clients and Proposals
• Virtually all sectors of business call upon the expertise of
consultants, so don't be too restrictive.
• Your client may consist of organizations from both the
public, the private and the non-profit sectors.
• To identify consulting opportunities, look for
advertisements on Web sites, in newspapers, magazines
and trade journals.
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THANK YOU
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