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GUIDE TO EVALUATING A CONSULTANT

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I. Why Hire a Consultant

Do you want to:

___ Increase your Productivity?

Consultants increase the organization’s productivity and efficiency by enabling it to address essential issues to which staff cannot effectively devote adequate time.

___ Secure Objective Evaluation and Assessment?

Outside consultants can recognize and voice matters that internal staff do not recognize or may be reluctant to discuss.

___ Obtain Specialized Expertise?

In highly-developed specialty areas such as marketing, technology, and board development, consultants can provide guidance and complete critical projects.

___ Draw on Invaluable Experience?

Since consultants work with many programs and institutions, they can broaden the range of options to consider, provide a seasoned perspective, and suggest which avenues are most promising to explore.

___ Control Your Costs by Selective Investment?

Cost-effective with a high success rate, consultants provide an attractive alternative to expanding the fixed costs of staffing.

II. When to Hire a Consultant

Do you need to:

___Plan, initiate or execute special projects?

___Undertake major new initiatives?

___Evaluate or refresh current programs?

___Transition from short-term to long-term planning?

___Initiate strategic assessment and/or strategic planning?

___Handle staff responsibilities on an interim basis during transitions?

III. Checklist for Choosing the Right Consultant

___1. Clearly define the project(s) for which you need outside help.

___2. Identify appropriate consultants to help you achieve your goals.

___3. Screen prospect pool to top candidates.

✓Request basic information from all candidates, then select finalists to interview.
✓At least two is productive; three is plenty; more than four begins to be counterproductive.

___4. Schedule face-to-face meetings with your top prospects.

✓Allow at least one hour for each-anything less is not in your own best interest.
✓Provide appropriate organizational information to each prior to your meeting.
✓List your criteria and key questions, then use consistently for each presentation.

___5. Make sure that the consultant’s philosophy and mission are compatible.

___6. Request proposals from your top candidates.

✓Ask them to specifically address what services they will provide, their cost and fees, a preliminary timeframe and the expected outcome.
✓Are there organization-specific questions for which you need an answer as well?

___7. Frame cost considerations in terms of net gain.

✓Experience shows that the lowest bid may notturn out to be the least expensive.
✓Meeting your net objective is the ultimate goal.

___8. Check references provided by consultant finalists.

___9. Notify all candidates of your final decision in a timely manner.

___10. Request a detailed contract specifying: