Slashdot Mirror
When Should a Consultant Question Decisions?
bay43270 asks: "Presumably, companies hire consultants because they need technical expertise. At some point (if not on a daily basis) a consultant is asked to do something that isn't in the best interest of the company (and therefore may not be in the best interest of the consultant in the long run). The consultant must ask 'do I just say "yes sir" and go to work, or do I try to explain things? If so, how hard do I push?' When should a good consultant question a decision, and how does the situation differ with contract programmers?"
Doesn't work. Usually they just buy you a cheap dinner, and stick you with the CEO's aging wife...
I disagree. You owe it to your reputation to see that the company employing your services is doing as well as it can. I realize that this may be a "goody-goody" type of attitude, but I believe in it. If they're paying for your advice, then it's your job to advise, despite any discomfort it may cause. There are, of course, good ways and bad ways to tell someone that the way they're doing something sucks. For example, "nice idea, retard" would be a bad way.
You've gotta know when to question.
Know when to keep still.
Know when to walk away.
And know when to run...
You'd better count your money
With each and every paystub
Cuz you'll have no chance to count it
When the merger's done.
what I do is explain why my experience and expertese tells me it is a wrong thing to do. I give examples, and send it to the appropriet people. I tell them I feel its part of my resposibilty to the company to give them my opinion and expert analysy. then I do it how they want me to.
This tact has always been met warmly. They don't always go with my suggestion, but they always appriate my input.
Well said.
Next week: Should a consultant use a spell checker before they submit a document for public perusal, or could that construed as being too "newbieish" and cause the client some concern? Stay tuned.
Soko
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
damn, i read it. what should i do?
please advise.
woooo woooo!
*Whimper*
...or could that be construed as being too...
*Sits down and waits for "The Revenge of the Karma Police"*
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
obligatory Dilbert quote: con + insult = consult consultant: Some who cons you and then insults you before leaving. :)
Consensus is good, but informed dictatorship is better
I could tell you, but then I'd have to bill you.
Programmer??
Remote access???
Domain controller???
Are you mad??
WTF are you thinking?
trust me I am not trolling.
However, a fortune cookie from the BSD Games Fortune Cookie files also goes:
The Consultant's Curse:
Qu'on me donne six lignes écrites de la main du plus honnête homme, j'y trouverai de quoi le faire pendre.
This just made me recall a quote from a book I read a while ago:
"What is the most effective Windows NT remote management tool?
A car."
- Network Intrusion Detection, An Analyst's Handbook
2nd Edition, 2000
Stephen Northcutt et al, page 147
Don't mean to do some Windows-bashing, but I remember I was laughing out loud when I read that.