Blast from the Past!
Originally posted by Kevin Mader
energy,
Sounds like if not the same group, the same deal anyway. Get your money's worth, best you can. Since I wasn't involved in the highering of our consultant, I never felt obligated to push for 'value'.
I cannot blame the Consultant today anymore than I could blame him when I posted this in another thread on April 26, 2001:
"David,
When you read this, you will find it very hard to believe. Believe me, I lived it. As I continued to get quotations from various consultants, we wanted a local consultant to reduce mileage/expenses (orders from on high), it appeared no one was seriously interested. Out of the blue, “on high” says to call this particular consultant. This is when it starts to get interesting. This consultant was utilized in the past when we were all together in a previous company. We never did our assignments, put all the responsibility on one person, did all the wrong things and never even got close for a gap assessment. Our company closed operations in our area and we all went on our merry ways. Now, we are back together again in a new “start up” company doing pretty much the same work that the old company did.
When I contacted this particular consultant, he finally made the connection between us and that other company who never gave a s—t. This was after I reminded him that we were a previous client under another name. We paid him in full in 4 months and continued to attend sessions for another 4 months, and someone pulled the plug. It didn’t matter because nobody contributed to the cause anyway. The main thing to remember is that the Executive decision maker is the same person, then, as we have now.
The consultant, in my opinion, did it right. Knowing our history, he emphasized teamwork, management commitment, etc. He got the CEO, not the decision maker here, to verbally commit and say those things to the troops that brings everyone together for a noble cause. The fact remains, he trusts the decision maker to call the shots, with full confidence.
No it’s not the consultant. This collection of personnel would challenge any consultant’s ability to get the job done. If the consultant did it all, his or herself, we would have a better chance. We went dirt cheap, hence the amount of homework assignments, and you get what you pay for.
The question is: Why didn’t they learn from the last time? The answer: They never had a clue the first time.
Now, you be nice to me. I’m a Project Manager, with no measurable authority, (Mgt. Rep, too) charged with managing a project that will probably go about 18 months-2 years, or never, due to lack of interest. Don’t weep for me. I find my solace here in the forum engaging charming personalities such as your self."
Update:
We are right where I thought we would be, in spite of the Consultant's assurance to our CEO that we would be ready for Registration by Easter.
Unless everybody begins to take this seriously, we will be lucky to get our first "Majors" in the Fall or later. Of course, I am being held responsible to ensure that the projected milestone plan remains on schedule. "I want names. You have my support" if we start to fall behind schedule. The consultant has received his last check, so let's take it from here. Maybe, now, he will say it like it is.
