Questions To Ask Before You Hire a Consultant

1 Compiled by Paradigm Associates LLC. Copyright 2006, 2012, 2013 Strategic and Executive Development for ProfessionalsQuestions To AskBefore You Hire a ConsultantA complimentary guide to make your experience with us or any Consultant a better, more productive oneUpdated versionQuestions To AskBefore You Hire a ConsultantCompiled by Paradigm Associates LLC. Copyright 2006, 2012, 2013In our 25 years of experience of working with prime contractors, customers,suppliers, partners, and third parties, we have found some fundamental principlesthat apply to all of these relationships. When we applied them in a timely manner,we were satisfied with the outcome.

2 When we didn t, we usually had to backtrackduring the process to address unmet ve found that when we are not satisfied with the outcome, or think the otherparty is not living up to the promises it made, it is usually a case of unmetexpectations. Clearly, there are certain Questions that should be asked Before hiringa Consultant . We have divided the items to consider into groups: Questions to ask about our own organization Before we talk with a consultantQuestions to ask about the potential project Before talking with a consultantQuestions to ask about the Consultant s background informationQuestions to ask about the Consultant s personal chemistry and fitQuestions to ask about the match and fit of the Consultant s firmQuestions to ask about the training and methodologies to be usedQuestions to ask about the post evaluation process to be usedQuestions to ask about the proposalQuestions to ask about the follow-through and follow-upPrint out this document and check off any items you feel you need to pay attentionto for your

3 Upcoming hope this thought process becomes a useful tool to ensure even greater successwith your next project. We would like to earn your trust as well as your consider using our services whenever appropriate. We look forward tohearing from (908) 276-4547 Fax (908) and Executive Development forProfessionals1. Questions to ask about our own organization Before we talk with a Consultant Are we willing to be objective about what the current circumstances are? Have we considered in what ways our management style and organizationalculture will help or hurt this potential project? Can we be clear about how much effort our team is willing to expend?

4 Do weagree that rarely can a Consultant come in and hand in the answer withoutsignificant effort on our part? Have we determined that it will be worth it? Will we be objective about our choice of potential partners? Will it be apopularity contest or a results contest? Is there clear executive sponsorship and support for this project? Do we have internal champions for this project? Who are they? Do we need a visionary who can create specific project goals, objectives, teamstructures, and timelines or just someone who can manage the execution of aproject that is already well defined? Who will be threatened bythis project? Have wethought through astrategy to deal with thefallout?

5 Are we asking someoneon the outside to own the responsibility for theproject or only lead/guidethe process and escalatehigh-level issues to us? Can we be objective aboutwhat is probable, possible, and miracle status? Few companies can deliver onmiracle status. Do we know why we are asking for it and the minimumacceptable outcomes?3 Tel (908) 276-4547 Fax (908) To Ask Before You Hire a ConsultantStrategic and Executive Development forProfessionals2. Questions to ask about the potential project Before talking with a Consultant Are we clear in our mind about what we want and need? If there is a difference,did we agree on what we are looking for?

6 Can we articulate it clearly? What fundamental causes (vs. symptoms) do we want to address with thiseffort? Have we differentiated between the two? Do we need a technical Consultant or a process facilitator for this effort? Are we clear about the beginning and the end of the engagement? Do we knowwhat to expect at each step in the project? What do we want our staff to be feeling, thinking, and doing differently when theconsultant s work is complete? The arrival of a new Consultant may sparkfear, suspicion, or rumors. Have wedetermined how much and what kinds ofinformation we will need to share with thekey staff members regarding theconsultant s work?

7 Is the Consultant expected to help rallysupport to make this project fly? Will the Consultant doing the work be on oroff our site? Do we care if any of the work will besubcontracted? Have we designed a one-page rating sheetto fill in as we interview each Consultant tomake it easier to make a decision after allthe interviews have been conducted?4 Tel (908) 276-4547 Fax (908) To Ask Before You Hire a ConsultantStrategic and Executive Development forProfessionals3. Questions to ask about the Consultant s background information What was your professional experience Before you became a Consultant orfacilitator? Are you a specialist or a generalist?

8 What value or special skill set do you expectto bring to the table? What is your prior experience with clients of our company s size? (Asking aboutthe types of problems a Consultant has dealt with can uncover a Consultant slevel of business domain knowledge. This can avoid a significant number ofbillable hours spent ongetting up to speed.) Have you worked onsimilar projects orconsulted with othergroups facing problemssimilar to ours? What didyou learn from theexperience? What wouldyou do differently if youcould repeat theexperience? Have you writtenanything, published ornot, that deals withissues we face? Who are the people and companies with whom you ve personally workedbefore?

9 Can we call them to ask about your work? Are there other members of your firm who would be working with you? Who arethey? How would you propose to divide up the tasks among your teammembers? When can we interview them?5 Tel (908) 276-4547 Fax (908) To Ask Before You Hire a ConsultantStrategic and Executive Development forProfessionals4. Questions to ask about the Consultant s personal chemistry and fit Do we believe this person sdemeanor and personal chemistry isright for our organization? Do webelieve this Consultant can create apositive relationship with our staff? Is the Consultant pursuing innovativesolutions to our problems? Doeshe/she ask creative Questions aboutour project?

10 As a result of thequestions, has he/she provided uswith information or insights we hadnot previously considered? What level of technology is theconsultant or process facilitatorusing? No tech? Low tech? Sometech? High tech? Does that matchour people s expectations for thisproject? Is the Consultant or processfacilitator learner-centered, keepingtheir best interests in mind? What impact will this person haveon our staff long after theengagement is over? Does the Consultant appear to walkthe talk? Does he practice what hepreaches? Most consultants focus on two areas:cutting costs and raising do they see as the relationshipbetween the two functions? Is thatthe right answer for us?