Robert J. Haworth ~ Author
Don't Sign That Contract, Charlie!
If you are an executive that is beginning the daunting process of hiring a consulting firm to assist your organization with a major change initiative, Don’t Sign That Contract Charlie! will be an invaluable guide to assist you through this effort.
After providing his opinion and experience of consulting firms and the value they bring to their clients, Robert walks you through the major steps of understanding the consulting industry, hiring the right firm, managing them successfully, and then turning over the new systems, processes and procedures to your internal team.
In addition, Robert clearly explains the differences in hiring a consulting firm to assist you with a systems implementation versus a strategic plan development. These differences are important to understand and get right!
The major contents of the book are briefly described below.
Understand 'Em
• The consulting industry is very large and diverse. This section provides an overview of the various types of firms, their sizes, their specializations, and other factors that are important to understand when starting to determine what firm is right for your project.
• Understanding the consulting business model(s) makes you an informed, and better buyer of their services. Understanding the differences in various firms business models will help you determine what type of firm is right for your project and organization.
• Finally, this section provides great advice on the strategic partnerships that consulting firms have with software and technology companies in order to avoid hiring a firm that may have “a solution looking for your problem”!
Hire 'Em
• Why are you hiring a consulting firm? It’s important to understand this.
• What does your team think about having a consulting firm assisting them with this major project. It’s critical to your success to get your team on board.
• Obviously, another key to your success will be finding and hiring the right firm. This section guides your through the process of determining your requirements, developing a Request For Proposal (RFP), identifying the list of consulting firms you want to send the RFP to and evaluate for your project, and the critical steps to making the final selection for the firm you want to hire to assist your organization. Important stuff!
• Contracts! As Robert says, “your project won’t succeed with this step, but it may fail!” Developing the right win/win contracts for your complex project will be cornerstone for the future success of your project. Get ‘Em right!
Manage 'Em
• Managing any project is complex….managing a project using a consulting firm is even more complex!
• This section provides a robust guide for the dos and dont's of managing a project using a consulting firm. From the development of the Project Charter, to the Kick-Off Meeting and then on to the boring, but so important Project Management tasks, Robert gives great advice to keep your project on-track!
• Robert also provides great advice on Knowledge Transfer. This is an area that is often overlooked, or not focused-on properly, which can result in long term issues after the consulting firm leaves.
• Other key aspects of managing the project, including The Bill (Yikes!), the right level of control and focus, and managing tough and challenging projects, are also addressed in this section.
• And oh yeah….that touchy topics of ETHICS! Always be ethical.
Get Rid of Em
• Finally, Robert addresses an area that is seldom discussed in books using consultants, and the GETTING RID OF THEM!
• Don't go away mad... just go away!
But... let's make sure we know "Where's the Beef?"