Software Consultants = lots of money 1901
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Be wary of consulants. My experience is they cost a lot and usually do not set a foundation to build on. This way they can entice you to use them every year.
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I’m inclined to agree with Nicky.
Most of the consultants we met with appeared to have a lot of technical knowledge, but very little practical knowledge on how to apply SOX as best fit within an organisation.
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Good points and when using consultants to jump start a project or to augment existing resources, some of the following guidelines should be established:
- Formally, spell out expectations and guidelines in the contract
- Establish communication and feedback channels (e.g., periodic reviews of progress are also good)
- Request and research references if applicable
- Recognize that management of external 3rd party entities is time consuming and requires senior level skills (as noted in the 2 links below)
ALLPM forums - Management of 3rd party consultants
please paste to browser and add www
allpm.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2-and-file=viewtopic-and-t=1106
allpm.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2-and-file=viewtopic-and-t=452
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As a few regulars on this forum will vouch, I am more than agreeable to provide feedback about using consultants and to share experiences at my anon email provided earlier. However, I try to avoid discussing these matters in an open forum.
Too bad that websites like epinion.com or other similar ‘product/service’ review websites that allow users to post anonymous feedback about experiences do not cover the use of consultants.
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Be wary of consulants. My experience is they cost a lot and usually do not set a foundation to build on. This way they can entice you to use them every year.
I won’t blame the consultants for everything. A lot depends on how much competent person you have in your place to understand the system and use it. Most of the time companies assume that a tool is supposed to do everything and a person is hand picked from the rolls to maintain it.
Calvin
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The problem with Consultants is usually that their clients are not clear what they want from them. Time and time again I see senior management doing things like engaging a firm to ‘do SOX’ for them without a clear idea of what that means nor how they are going to manage the consultant.
Working with Consultatns can be extremely valuable if you have a clear idea of what you want and they have the skills to do it.
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I also agree with the feedback by Denis and Calvin … Consultants can bring valuable experience and expertise into an organization and may make a significant difference. In some cases the company may not have an option to add to staff.
Still, our ‘mileage may vary’ based on the actual consultants that are used for special projects and most importantly how the company manages them. Thus if they are needed, checking references and interviewing them are helpful to ensure a good fit.
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Working with Consultatns can be extremely valuable if you have a clear idea of what you want and they have the skills to do it.
This is the real picture.
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I agree with you that if the client understands what the consultant can provide them with, and the consultant knows what his/her client’s expectations are, then, such an engagement is going to be of enormous benefit.
The concerns that I have raised relate only to the number of consultants and software companies that ‘Cold- Call’ me on a regular basis, but are unable to explain of what benefit they can be to us.
Certainly, if I were to engage in the hiring of a consultant, I would have a clear idea of what our needs were, and, if so, I wouldn’t be sitting around waiting for someone to call me, advertising their services.[/quote]
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(sorry about the typo - there should be no quote reference above)