The Quintessential Guide to Using Consultants presents practical and clear guidelines for maximizing the results of the consulting relationship through each step of the process. Thorough, straightforward and packed with real-world wisdom you'll find priceless information inside on all aspects of selecting and working with a consultant. Features include key skills learning points, case examples, worksheets, checklists, and more.
What if the next consultant you hired came with an instruction manual filled with strategies to maximize your end of the relationship? That's exactly what this pocket guide is - a practical how-to guide to taking full advantage of what the right consultant can provide.
Provide organized, efficient, relevant consulting with lasting value Maximizing the Value of Consulting is an indispensable, practical guide for managing, measuring, and delivering the results that make internal and external consulting a lasting value to clients and the company. Sponsored by the ROI Institute and the Association of Internal Management Consultants, this book provides a roadmap to relevance for consultants operating in the increasingly fast-paced, changing, dynamic environment. Readers will learn how to use resources properly and manage the investment efficiently, while truly connecting to the business, securing appropriate levels of commitment, and providing adequate levels of support. Detailed coverage includes guidance toward calculating the value of consulting in terms that executives understand, including business impact and ROI, and using the appropriate tools to show how things are working throughout the process. Whether organizations are using internal or external consultants, or both, consultants can provide better value to the company. Consultants are needed to provide advice, support, and insight into the processes undertaken to improve the business, and integrate the input of different functional units into a more streamlined strategy. This book is designed to help consultants provide the utmost value to clients by maximizing organization, efficiency, and ultimately, ROI. Manage for value with better organization and cost control Set objectives at multiple levels to deliver useful results Measure implementation, impact, ROI, and intangibles Use final results to drive appropriate actions, creating lasting value The skyrocketing need for internal and external consultants will continue, in almost every functional area ranging from HR and technology, to auditing and risk management. Maximizing the Value of Consulting provides a manual for relevant, value-driven consulting, with world-renowned expert insight.
Consultants are a dominant force in the business world. At their best, they can pinpoint a company's shortcomings and suggest improvements-but many executives and managers do not know how to work with consultants in the most efficient and profitable ways. Let a corporate executive-turned-advisor explain about Getting the Most Out of Your Consultant, with solid advice on how to select, hire, and build a constructive relationship with a consultant.
How to find and hire qualified consultants. Holtz takes you through the steps of evaluating consultant credentials, costs, and effectively managing the work of the consultant throughout your project. Includes worksheets and checklists for screening potential consultants, as well as guidelines for contract-writing and negotiations. Includes sources for finding consultants: periodicals, professional associations, networks, and referral services.
Like emails and conference calls, Management Consultants are a fact of modern corporate life. There is no major public, private or state-owned company that does not use their services in every corner of the world. Deploying them successfully can create millions of dollars of value and catapult junior managers into the big league; their misuse can bankrupt firms. Since hiring Consultants is not an everyday activity, many managers do not know the tips and tricks to use them effectively and extract the most value. While there are many books outlining consulting methods and how to get into the industry, there are few that provide any kind of guide from a buyer's perspective. Written by an experienced industry insider this book aims to be that guide. Are you looking for Consultants, but don't know where to start? Trying to get a discount on consulting fees? Have you ever considered that consultants are actually incentivised to get you promoted? To find the answer to these questions and more, read on.
This Third Edition to Peter Block's Flawless Consulting addresses business changes and new challenges since the second edition was written ten years ago. It tackles the challenges next-generation consultants face, including more guidance on how to ask better questions, dealing with difficult clients, working in an increasingly virtual world, how to cope with complexities in international consulting, case studies, and guidelines on implementation. Also included are illustrative examples and exercises to help you cement the guides offered.
