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Home > Members > Members Only > How Consultants Help
How Consultants Can Help You Solve Problems
Short-Term Help
The most familiar reason for hiring a consultant is when there is an immediate short-term need for a person possessing a particular skill. Temporary agencies perform this service routinely for clerical personnel and some agencies are sources for technical and other professional experts. In the latter case, it is more common for the employer to make direct contact with an independent consultant. The task may not require a full time effort on the part of the consultant. Some people refer to consultants who are available for emergency or unanticipated requirements as a "just-in-time workforce".
Up-To-Date Knowledge
Try as they may, it is difficult for technical and other professional people to stay current with new developments in their field while working on their day to day tasks. Most consultants, on the other hand, find it imperative to stay abreast of the latest information and practices. Many consultants will have applied new techniques or approaches in previous assignments, giving them valuable hands-on insights, making them even more valuable.
Consultant Networks
Hiring just the right person is difficult enough but what if a company needs a team of experts in various disciplines? Independent consultants in business for some time are likely to know qualified expert consultants in related fields. This knowledge comes from membership in professional organizations like PATCA and from their experience with other multiple-consultant projects. A company can choose to contract the entire project to the lead consultant or can ask for recommendations and make there own selection following interviews. As a result, the company quickly gets a team of experts on the project.
Avoiding the Hire/Lay-off Problem
As companies expand, the pressure to hire more people builds. But what if there is downturn around the corner? After past recessions, employers have learned to be cautious about adding full time employees. Hire/lay-off cycles are both expensive and unpleasant. Even when the future looks good, it may be wise to initially fill openings with full or part-time experienced consultants. Later, as favorable business prospects are confirmed, a consultant can easily be dismissed and a full time employee hired. If desired, the consultant's term can be briefly extended to familiarize the full time employee with current activities.
New Perspectives
It is easy for a company to get locked into a particular path, whether it is a new product development, a marketing approach, or a personnel policy. It is difficult to be objective about an agreed-to approach that is not delivering the expected results. Sometimes there is an aspect of political sensitivity working against change. It happens in most companies from time to time. An independent expert can review the situation and present an objective analysis. If a change is required, the consultant can recommend the steps needed to achieve the desired result.
An Outsourced Workforce
Companies that maintain a small permanent staff and outsource most of their labor functions is a recent evolution. Technical and other professional staffing requirements beyond the core group are met with local part-time or full-time consultants. Most manufacturing activities can be outsourced to overseas contractors. With this approach, the workforce can be expanded or contracted rapidly as market conditions warrant. An important benefit is avoidance of large real estate costs and other infrastructure expenses.
Minimum Supervision
There is always a period of low productivity when giving an existing or new employee a new assignment. The supervisor must take time to define the task, provide guidance and look over his or her shoulder until satisfied that the employee is on the right track. Experienced consultants require little supervision. Once the task and schedule are defined, the consultant proceeds with the project. From then on, the main interaction between the supervisor and the consultant is an occasional in-process review.
Lower Total Cost
The hourly rate for consultants is usually higher that that of the permanent staff. However, engaging a consultant is often a lower cost alternative. Consultants do not receive the costly package of benefits that regular employees enjoy that can add 40% or more to their direct cost. And a consultant is unlikely to consume a proportional share of overhead cost elements. On top of this, of course, is the ability to use the consultant only when there is an actual need. It is easy to see why so many companies use consultants for a variety of jobs that fall outside of their core competencies.
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