- Follow this blog:
- RSS
- Email Alert
IT Consultant
Mary Weilage
TechRepublic Staff
Mary Weilage
-
How to develop and maintain client relationships
Read Kevin Eikenberry's 10 suggestions for fostering important business relationships with your consulting clients.
Posted by Mary Weilage | July 14, 2008, 6:50 AM PDT | Latest comment by joanna@...
-
Insurance for independent IT consultants: Policies to consider
Insurance is one of the last things that independent consultants usually deem necessary when they're starting out. Find out which types of insurance policies independents should consider, and hear...
Posted by Chip Camden | July 14, 2008, 6:28 AM PDT | Latest comment by JohnMcGrew@...
-
Solicit client feedback with these consultant evaluation forms
Surveys can help you determine whether clients are satisfied with your work, expose trouble spots, and allow you to make corrections. Here are two downloadable forms you can use to find out how...
Posted by TechRepublic | July 11, 2008, 9:34 AM PDT | Latest comment by arstringfellow@...
-
Four strategies for dealing with vendors that don't talk to consultants
Are you dealing with a vendor that won't talk to you? If so, Chip Camden explains that understanding why a vendor may be keeping mum can be the key to figuring out how to handle the situation.
Posted by Chip Camden | July 8, 2008, 10:52 AM PDT | Latest comment by nat_z_15@...
-
A change management primer for IT consultants
Determining the ability of the client organization to cope with a major IT project can help consultants find the most appropriate solution. Learn how evaluating the client's roles, resistance, and...
Posted by Bob Watkins | July 4, 2008, 10:50 AM PDT | Latest comment by jaytaylor5555
-
Resist bad decisions that will waste your client's money
If you're in a position where you believe a client's time and money is going to be wasted because of mismanagement or micromanagement by another consultant, Jeff Davis offers advice about what you...
Posted by Jeff Davis | July 3, 2008, 8:00 AM PDT | Latest comment by ogunda@...
-
A thieving coworker presents a sticky situation for an IT consultant
There are no easy answers for consultants who uncover coworkers that are stealing computer equipment from clients. Here is a good example of just such a dilemma faced by one TechRepublic member,...
Posted by Paul Baldwin | July 1, 2008, 12:55 PM PDT | Latest comment by Sterling "chip" Camden
-
Six questions to ask yourself before expanding your IT consultancy
Don't expand your IT consultancy without asking yourself these six important questions. If you still decide to take the plunge, find out what Chip Camden advises to ease into the transition.
Posted by Chip Camden | June 28, 2008, 9:55 AM PDT | Latest comment by PMPsicle
-
Good consultants know when to be "invisible"
Sometimes you need to take a backseat to the client team so that they can fully develop the skills they'll need after you're gone. Shannon Kalvar describes becoming an "invisible consultant" in...
Posted by Shannon Kalvar | June 26, 2008, 2:27 PM PDT | Latest comment by jaytaylor5555
-
IT consulting: The customer isn't always right
When a customer is wrong, it can be difficult to get them to come around to your way of thinking. Robert L. Bogue explains why listening, teaching, and giving them time to process information can...
Posted by Robert Bogue | June 25, 2008, 2:41 PM PDT | Latest comment by logisticscanada@...
-
10 personality traits of a highly effective independent consultant
Many IT consultants daydream about branching out on their own without giving much thought to what skills are necessary to succeed as a freelancer. Before you commit to being an independent...
Posted by Chip Camden | June 24, 2008, 1:31 PM PDT | Latest comment by pwoodctfl@...
-
Dealing with a mistrustful client
A CIO hires a consultant to examine the feasibility of outsourcing his IT team. When the consultant tries to handle the inevitable bad feelings of the in-house team, he finds that this extreme...
Posted by Shannon Kalvar | June 23, 2008, 6:46 AM PDT | Latest comment by alan williams
-
Five tips to help you deal with people who love to hate consultants
As an outsider coming into a company to make sometimes unwelcome changes, consultants can often find themselves the target of office politics. Here are a few survival tactics from a consultant who...
Posted by Timothy Huckabee | June 18, 2008, 11:52 AM PDT | Latest comment by Sterling "chip" Camden
-
Should IT consultants pay for their stupid mistakes?
Chip Camden is kicking himself because a client's test files were wiped out from a shared storage space, and there was no backup. Now he's grappling with whether he should (literally) pay his...
Posted by Chip Camden | June 16, 2008, 10:12 AM PDT | Latest comment by daniel@...
-
A consultant's technical pride causes his team considerable delays
Don't make this consultant's mistake: taking on project issues that don't suit your technical abilities. Letting your team apply its strengths to project work will allow you to focus on planning...
Posted by Shannon Kalvar | June 16, 2008, 8:45 AM PDT | Latest comment by mattfrye@...
-
How to respond if a client asks you to lie
If an IT consulting client asked you lie for them, would you? Chip Camden provides tips on what to say if your client puts you on the spot.
Posted by Chip Camden | June 11, 2008, 5:17 PM PDT | Latest comment by Sterling "chip" Camden
-
An Adventure in IT consulting
Chip Camden presents a fictitious scenario in which a project goes off the rails, and an IT consultant is called in to offer wisdom. Find out what IT consultants can learn from this example.
Posted by Chip Camden | June 5, 2008, 8:33 PM PDT | Latest comment by techrepublic@...
-
Offshore developers: Focus on comprehension rather than speed
Chip Camden thinks that offshore developers need to stop being code machines and start seeking deep comprehension in their field.
Posted by Chip Camden | May 27, 2008, 1:54 PM PDT | Latest comment by Sterling "chip" Camden
-
IT consulting: The importance of naive creativity
When IT consultants ask naive questions about a problem, it can often lead to creative solutions. Chip Camden discusses the importance of a bringing a fresh perspective to the table.
Posted by Chip Camden | May 21, 2008, 12:08 PM PDT | Latest comment by apotheon
-
Onsite IT consulting: Do you charge by the hour or per day?
Do you have a policy for onsite IT consulting fees, or do you negotiate each situation on a case-by-case basis?
Posted by Chip Camden | May 12, 2008, 3:23 PM PDT | Latest comment by timl006
-
Tips for choosing your professional email address
Your professional email address is like a handshake to clients. Chip Camden advises what to do and what not to do when creating that email address.
Posted by Chip Camden | September 13, 2011, 7:14 AM PDT | Latest comment by Sterling "chip" Camden
-
Create a one-page status report with Microsoft Project 2010
See how easy it is to customize Microsoft Project 2010 to create a custom view that filters detailed tasks and highlights the major deliverables that need reviewing in a status report.
Posted by Andrew Makar | March 13, 2013, 12:51 AM PDT
-
Microsoft Project Professional 2013 new features preview
After using the Microsoft Project Professional 2013 Preview, Will Kelly reports back on a handful of appealing new features and tools.
Posted by Will Kelly | September 18, 2012, 8:24 AM PDT
-
Configure automated backups using SyncToy and Windows 7's Scheduled Task
Learn how to create a new SyncToy task that automatically schedules backups of the directories clients need regularly backed up to a network share or external hard disk.
Posted by Erik Eckel | March 9, 2012, 2:34 PM PST | Latest comment by wdpcpa
-
Signs a client may not be ready for managed services
Warning bells should go off in your head if you spot any of these items indicating managed services are not a priority at a prospective client's site.
Posted by Erik Eckel | May 15, 2013, 9:44 AM PDT | Latest comment by IT_Lunatic
-
Learn BYOD policy best practices from templates
No two BYOD policies are or should be alike. Here are four BYOD policy templates that might help you seed your BYOD policy discussion and development process.
Posted by Will Kelly | May 1, 2013, 6:03 AM PDT
-
Define project scope to include deliverables, boundaries, and requirements
There are two places that scope is defined on your project. High-level scope is defined in your project charter. Low-level scope is defined in your business requirements document. High-level...
Posted by Tom Mochal | September 18, 2007, 1:01 AM PDT | Latest comment by user_786@...
-
Mitigate project role confusion for staff wearing multiple hats
If you expect your developers or contractors to take on business analyst or project manager roles, here are three ways to help them be effective and stay motivated.
Posted by Rick Freedman | July 23, 2012, 5:01 PM PDT | Latest comment by lars.aarby@...
-
Customizable IT consultant sample contract
Chip Camden presents his standard consulting contract, along with explanations about each section. See if you can modify his contract to fit your needs.
Posted by Chip Camden | November 3, 2008, 6:31 AM PST | Latest comment by amilkh
-
Seven rules for flying with a laptop: Share these tips with clients
A client is planning on flying for an upcoming trip, and you know he may not have time to check the TSA's guidelines on traveling with a laptop. Be a good little elf and prepare your client for...
Posted by Susan Harkins | October 22, 2008, 5:00 AM PDT | Latest comment by Marty R. Milette
-
Marketing trends and strategies for consultants
These survey results indicate what types of marketing consultants spend time on compared with how those varying time commitments result in income.
Posted by Chip Camden | April 23, 2013, 7:07 AM PDT | Latest comment by joerejeski
-
Herding tigers: How to manage subcontractors for your consultancy
Chip Camden tells a reader who is starting an IT consultancy that she has to coordinate efforts between clients and her genius subcontractors. Post your advice on managing subcontractors.
Posted by Chip Camden | May 7, 2013, 1:25 PM PDT | Latest comment by realvarezm
-
Telling clients 'I don't know' is acceptable
Consultants should market themselves to clients as providing the right answers rather than having all the answers. This is why it's beneficial to know how to conduct reasoned research.
Posted by Chip Camden | August 23, 2011, 7:49 AM PDT | Latest comment by bobp@...
-
Use PERT technique for more accurate estimates
Regardless of the technique you use, the tendency in project estimation is to provide one number for each estimate. In other words, if you have 100 activities on your schedule, each activity would...
Posted by Tom Mochal | June 25, 2007, 8:16 AM PDT | Latest comment by joebailey77
-
Independent contractors: Make sure your contract protects your interests
Writing a contract can help independent contractors and clients iron out project details ahead of time and avoid potential disputes down the line. Meredith Little outlines what verbiage and...
Posted by Meredith Little | March 13, 2009, 12:25 PM PDT | Latest comment by PMPsicle
-
How to determine your consulting fees
In my previous post I mentioned that I'm raising rates for most of my clients this year -- which brings up the question of how we consultants should determine our rates to begin with. Most...
Posted by Chip Camden | January 4, 2008, 1:55 PM PST | Latest comment by DonnaMitchell
-
Huddle: a worthy SharePoint alternative for client collaboration
SharePoint is the go-to collaboration suite for most professional services firms. Find out why the SaaS-based Huddle might be a more expedient and user-friendly client extranet option.
Posted by Will Kelly | May 16, 2013, 12:40 PM PDT
-
Only novices daisy-chain switches
If you support so many network nodes that multiple switches are required, technology consultant Erik Eckel encourages you to do it right.
Posted by Erik Eckel | November 11, 2011, 11:56 PM PST | Latest comment by spglmn
-
Three strengths of a technical project manager
A technical project manager straddles the line between technical savvy and organizational skill. As I mentioned in my earlier blog, this combination makes him prone to the same kinds of...
Posted by Shannon Kalvar | April 14, 2007, 5:25 AM PDT | Latest comment by Todder
-
Free project collaboration tools that rock
Andrew Makar explains why these three project collaboration tools are worth a look: Cohuman, Asana, and Trello.
Posted by Andrew Makar | December 3, 2011, 1:45 PM PST | Latest comment by Johndenham
