A Practical Guide for Business Owners Use of Consultants.
Hiring business consultants is a popular and well accepted practice in today's business world. Technological advances and the related impact on pretty much all phases of business activities and operations often lead to the need for a business to hire a consultant.
The consultant is hired to provide specialized expertise or information the business itself cannot procure on its own through its own resources and employees.
The purpose of this blog is to provide a series of short and concise guide points to the business owner considering hiring a business consultant. The information will be provided in 7 parts with this blog being Part 1 and addressing the need for the business owner to obtain information.
Obtaining information is probably the most basic reason for businesses to engage consultants. Information is sometimes compiled by outside sources through surveys, analysis, cost studies, feasibility studies, market surveys and various studies of competitive structures, operational processes and other techniques within an industry or business.
Oftentimes businesses want a consultant’s expertise and current information. The business is willing to engage the outside consultant due to the business being unable to spare the time, resources and expertise to develop the information internally.
As the business owner, think about what information you're asking for from the consultant.More importantly, really think about “why” you as the business owner need the information and what you will do with it once you have it. You should note that no consultant can supply useful information. unless he/she understands why the information is being sought and how it will be used once it is provided.
An open and extensive discussion should occur between the relevant business owner(*s), manager(s), employees and the consultant so that a thorough exploration of the business client’s needs can be done and perhaps other areas or issues identified to enhance the consultant’s work for the business.
The key factor in this step is that sometimes the information the business client actually needs differs from what the consultant was asked to provide. As a result, a detailed discussion between the business players and consultant can define the success of the relationship and work.
