Consultants' and Contractors' Heaven

T

treesei

#1
(Not sure if this is the right place. Will not complain if get re-directed :))

Here is a story my ex-colleague told me about his workplace, a small medical device manufacturer.

The company's own regulatory affairs VP quit. The own regulatory affairs manager was laid off. The company hired 4 consultants to run the regulatory affairs function. One was given the title of acting VP, regulatory affairs; another replaced the laid off manager with two regulatory specialists (company employees) reporting to her.

This is new to me. Companies hire consultants for their technical expertise. Companies hire them and manage them. This company, instead, let consultants enter its management structure/org chart. I thought this is crazy but I never worked for a small business. Perhaps this is common for small business?
 
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Marc

Hunkered Down for the Duration with a Mask on...
Staff member
Admin
#2
Re: Consultant's Heaven

I don't know how common it is, but years ago I was a "part time" employee at a number of small companies in variously named capacities. Many times small companies need someone once a month or so to come in and do things they can not afford a full time person to do.
 

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#3
Re: Consultant's Heaven

(Not sure if this is the right place. Will not complain if get re-directed :))

Here is a story my ex-colleague told me about his workplace, a small medical device manufacturer.

The company's own regulatory affairs VP quit. The own regulatory affairs manager was laid off. The company hired 4 consultants to run the regulatory affairs function. One was given the title of acting VP, regulatory affairs; another replaced the laid off manager with two regulatory specialists (company employees) reporting to her.

This is new to me. Companies hire consultants for their technical expertise. Companies hire them and manage them. This company, instead, let consultants enter its management structure/org chart. I thought this is crazy but I never worked for a small business. Perhaps this is common for small business?
I don't know how common it is, but years ago I was a "part time" employee at a number of small companies in variously named capacities. Many times small companies need someone once a month or so to come in and do things they can not afford a full time person to do.
In my experience, lots of companies hire "contractors" (full or part-time) to various management jobs.

I talk about the difference I ascribe to "consultants" versus "contractors" - that doesn't mean a consultant can NOT take a contracting position or vice versa.

The threads where I discuss this:
Consulting – Is it in YOUR Career Future?

Contracting/Temping - Viable Alternates in Tough Times
 

Randy

Super Moderator
#4
Re: Consultant's Heaven

What's the big deal, a god majority of major corporate leaders aren't long term company employee's, nor do they plan to be, they're nothing but glorified contractors with a slightly higher pay scale.
 

Stijloor

Staff member
Super Moderator
#5
Re: Consultant's Heaven

What's the big deal, a god majority of major corporate leaders aren't long term company employee's, nor do they plan to be, they're nothing but glorified contractors with a slightly higher pay scale.
True! Everybody is a consultant! :agree1:

I just have more bosses...:lmao:

Stijloor.
 

Jen Kirley

Quality and Auditing Expert
Staff member
Admin
#6
Re: Consultant's Heaven

My Managing Human Resources instructor described predictions that this will actually become the norm, in which people are mostly self contractors and get together on a project basis (like making a motion picture) then move on to their next project when it's finished.
 

Jim Wynne

Staff member
Admin
#7
Re: Consultant's Heaven

In my experience, lots of companies hire "contractors" (full or part-time) to various management jobs.

I talk about the difference I ascribe to "consultants" versus "contractors" - that doesn't mean a consultant can NOT take a contracting position or vice versa.

The threads where I discuss this:
Consulting – Is it in YOUR Career Future?

Contracting/Temping - Viable Alternates in Tough Times
I think it might be better to say that we discuss those things, unless you're linking to a specific post where you express an opinion and there is no discussion by others there.
 
Last edited:

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#8
Re: Consultant's Heaven

My Managing Human Resources instructor described predictions that this will actually become the norm, in which people are mostly self contractors and get together on a project basis (like making a motion picture) then move on to their next project when it's finished.
This was a trend described in the mid 90s as a "good thing" when the internet made it possible to put together ad hoc teams from all over the world who would work on a project and disband - no long term loyalty to a company, just to the task at hand. There were and are web sites which purport to put such "professionals" in a Yellow Pages type directory for folks to select either a team leader ( who would assemble his own team) or select every member of the team and set the task.

I gather two business models are in play:

  1. the consultants/contractors pay for a listing, just like the Yellow Pages
  2. the "buyer" sees listings, but pays a fee for contact info on just the folks he selects.
This is different from Linked In because the "professionals" are only those willing to be short, fixed term (length of project) hires and work off-site at their own computer terminals.



As a business owner, I get about 6 or 7 email solicitations each year offering the services of these listing sites. Some specialize - I recall one from about a year ago offering advertising people (copywriters, commercial artists, photographers, and videographers.) I haven't used one yet, but I'm not averse to the concept.
 
T

treesei

#9
Re: Consultant's Heaven

Thanks to "all the above". Very helpful for me to understand the current world. Per Wes' definition, I think that particular group actually are "contractors". But I like the idea that we are all "consultants".
 

Jen Kirley

Quality and Auditing Expert
Staff member
Admin
#10
Re: Consultant's Heaven

Thanks to "all the above". Very helpful for me to understand the current world. Per Wes' definition, I think that particular group actually are "contractors". But I like the idea that we are all "consultants".
My sense is that we had all better get to like the idea or be unhappy at some point. But as an auditor I can describe my misgivings about the idea because I wonder how we will manage to instill the sense of belonging and devotion employees are expected to have when we are all temps. I can't imaging how long it will take for the change to become the norm, if it ever does given human nature.
 
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