So you are a consultant. Now what?

[barb butrym]

Ok after visiting a couple other sites and reading posts about consultants and advisors, and adding my notes about trainers, I see there is much confusion in the world about what these people do out there..each consultant has a niche and calls themself what they will. Even Quality Engineers are different from place to place.

Lets discuss job descriptions and see if we can standardize some terms...if only for ourselves here on this forum.... and for kicks and giggles.

What is a consultant? Describe the involvement (role, methods, etc) with a typical ISO 9000 implementation from start to finish.

How does that role correlate to the $$$ charged?

What can the client expect when he deciedes to call in a consultant?

What does the client need to know, and how can he tell which consultant (method)is best for him?

I will now go away and contemplate this, Put on my consultants cap, and return later this evening to provide a response. Anyone else?

[Marc]

You lied. You didn't come back this evening.

But - it's late/early and I have to hit the pillow for a few. I'll put my 10 cents in shortly.

[Marc]

You said:

"Ok after visiting a couple other sites and reading posts about consultants and advisors..."

Do give us a list of the other sites you visit so we can check them out...

[barb butrym]

sorry...I did come back but I was too hot to come up with a good answer..<LOL>...I was beginning to think no one was listening anyway.

I didn't mean sites...i meant topics...here...again I'm sorry.

[barb butrym]

I will pickone option....

1st step is a Gap analysis.....report the results and do an awareness training showing what is required how to meet the requirements of each element. (trainer role)

2nd step is work with each element team/owner to set the policies, make any needed improvements,direct them in writing the procedures, etc (facilitator role)

3rd step is train the auditors (trainer again)

4th step is proof reader

5th step....preassessment (auditor role)

6th step prep for "real' audit (coach role)

day of audit (observer)

CA response (facilitator again)

Step 2 is where the difference in fee comes in to play......the involvement here is variable. I charge heavy for my poor typing skills to discourage it..BUT it doesn't seem to work <LOL>

Am I a consultant or Advisor?

[Marc]

A consultant is a piano teacher. The goal is to teach the client how to play on their own. A good piano teacher does a good job. A bad piano teacher can cause irrepairable (spelling...) harm.

Costs? Fees? Mine range from US$50/Hr to US$1500 a day. So many considerations. How many days? Local or travel? International? Size of company? Systems complexity?

The client's first problem is to decide what s/he needs/wants. What is goal. Financial position/expectations. Clients should expect in large part what they communicate that they need/want to the consultant.

I guess I'm far from any answers here for most of these because every client is different. From prices to requirements... And as time goes on I find myself taking different directions to deal with different road blocks. Methods are different with diffrent customers. I have had some customers which wanted me to 'stay in town, just in case'. Others expected me to be out there writing process documentation. Every day a new challange.

On the other hand there are Excel or Perry Johnson types. Very structured and regimented.

I do in general go along with your list as a general implementation roadmap.

[barb butrym]

I agree that each job is so very different...trouble I find is the client rarely knows what they want...they think they know...but in the end...they really rely on me to tell them what they need and should want.

My fees are the same ... usually figured out as a project total....except for some repeat clients (that want me hanging around) that pay me for invoiced time.

All in all as my box of tricks gets bigger, the job gets easier...I am more effective and I find I spend less time doing the project....ergo more $$ for actual hours spent...

[barb butrym]

I do enjoy the teaching role best...so naturally my speciality is training....Each in-house session is painstakenly tailored to the client. Each public session is tailored for "use"...in that delegates will use what they learn....during the sessions...to bring home the concept.