Acctg

Many application development managers are seeking help outside their organizations due to emerging or disruptive technologies, increasing demand on development resources, processing re-engineering, tightening budgets, and shorter timelines.

For the most part, application development managers call upon either a professional consulting firm or an independent contractor to help them meet these requirements. Deciding which option to choose requires a careful analysis of the project requirements and the consultant's skills. Several touch points to consider when making your decision include a thorough risk and cost analysis and the consultant's availability, track record, experience, and qualifications.

Most organizations prefer to do business with a limited group of contractors and/or consultancies to which they have an equitable relationship. Others opt to bargain-shop for the best available consultant that meets a given set of standards.

Either approach has its drawbacks and benefits; the correct approach differs per your circumstances. Consider the following list of preventative measures that you can take to help uncover or deter issues before they have a meaningful impact on your project's goals:

Verify the candidate's consulting/contracting resources:

It's not unusual for a sales lead to misrepresent (either intentionally or unintentionally) a vendor group's skills and capabilities. Therefore, ask for a list of prior clients that are of similar size or industry, or are recipients of similar projects. Then, contact the clients and ask about the success of their engagement. Another option is to request a resume list of the key individuals who would work on your project and then do a similar background solicitation.

Fully define the project:

It's amazing how many consulting engagements begin without a developed project plan; this is a disservice to both you and the contractor. The project plan should include a complete and documented...