TecTel Solutions
An Independent Consulting Group
Voice/Data/IT/Convergence

TecTel On-Line

Retaining Consulting Assistance

By Pam Dailey

Retaining an IT and/or telecommunications consultant can be a daunting task and requires some preparation to get the "best value for your money." Technical consultants should have a proven ability to communicate technical concepts to their clients. Superb written documentation is the only tangible item that an advising consultant leaves behind, so be certain that your consultant demonstrates a talent for writing.

Considerations for hiring a consultant include:

  1. A thorough discussion of fees should be undertaken including hourly rates with a "not to exceed" quote, or if the project can be carefully outlined, a fixed price bid. Fixed price bids are often the most advantageous to the client because a good consultant will complete the work whether or not the hours exceed the original estimate.
  2. Check the references provided by the consultant very carefully. It is important to get some sense of the consultant’s people skills as well as his/her technical expertise.
  3. Determine who will be assigned to your project and ask for a resume’ of the consultant(s) who will do the work. Marketing for consulting projects is often undertaken by a firm’s principal/president who may not be the consultant assigned to your project.
  4. Be certain that the consultant you hire can communicate complex technical information in an understandable manner. Read the consultant’s response to the original scope of work or RFP to determine if written documentation will be understandable and ask for work product from previous consulting engagements whenever possible.
  5. Ask that the consultant keep you updated as to the hours remaining on the "not to exceed" projects so that you don’t suffer from stick shock after receiving the first invoice.
  6. Determine how long the consulting firm has been in business.
  7. Does the consultant have experience with your type of project?
  8. Is the consultant a member of the consultant liaison programs for major telecommunications vendors? This gives the firm direct access to the highest level of management and technical support in the vendor companies. The vendors provide ongoing product education to the registered members.
  9. Is the consultant independent from vendors and will he/she provide you with unbiased recommendations? Independent consultants do not take money from anyone other than their clients. They do not sell products and do not receive commissions on their recommended solutions. 

If you require consulting assistance, please contact Mike or Pam Dailey at (770) 458-3411 or email pdailey@tectelsolutions.com

Return to TecTel On-Line

Note: All information contained in this article is the property of TecTel Solutions, and may not be reproduced in part or whole without thee express permission of a TecTel Solutions' Principal.