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Key
Messages
Independent
advice can save time and money
Many consultants offering IT advice
are doing so while acting as agents, implementation partners or resellers for
one or more software products. In some cases this is not that obvious, because
they use an associated company with a different name to market the products. There
is a danger that consultants like this will seek to fit your problems to their
solutions, which is fine if the solutions offer the best mix of functionality
and price. Most consultants in this situation will claim to offer advice that
is independent and in the best interest of the client and in many cases they do.
The decision on whether this claim is credible or not is yours to make, but you
should make it in full knowledge of the facts. The problem is that it's not always
easy to know how objective they actually are.
There are three areas
where an Independent IT Consultant can add particular value; - Formulating
an eBusiness Strategy
An Independent Consultant with experience in developing
formal eBusiness Strategies can guide you through this process, so that the ultimate
strategy is appropriate for your company and not constrained by particular software
products or technologies
- Selecting
Software Systems
By having an overview of the marketplace, without being
compromised by being part of it, he/she should be able to save you time and money
by identifying the right solution for the long term.
- Formulating
an eSecurity Strategy
It's essential that your Security Strategy is up-to-date
and takes into account the latest threats and technologies. The knowledge needed
may not be readily attained by an internal employee, who is not exposed to the
marketplace in the same way as an Independent Consultant.
- Assess
the Advisor
When considering working with any IT advisor, assess their
ability to give appropriate advice in the following terms - Independence
- Appropriate
Technical Skills
- Track
Record in delivering projects like yours
- Sector
Experience
- Business
Skills
- Personality
Clearly
trust and fairness are essential considerations when
working with an external consultant. If you have any
doubts on this, find a new IT Consultant!
Check out the detailed How To Guide on Managing
an eBusiness Project for more information on choosing
the right advice.
Also refer to Choosing
eBusiness vendors and software and eSecurity
for more information
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