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Consultant is a compound word from the root words "Con" and "Insult".
So sayeth the great Dogbert.
So sayeth the great Dogbert.
1. Make sure they speak clear and fluent English and don't sound like they should be working in some Kwiki Mart serving up slushies and beef jerky(e.g. Apoo from the Simpsons)
2. Make sure they are U.S. citizens and not some H1-B visa foreigner who will cut and run when you figure out his work is crap and you want a refund after your system is trashed
3. Make sure that their skills are current with today's technology, not technology from over 2 decades ago (e.g. Pascal, Cobol, Basic, DBASE programmers)
2. Make sure they are U.S. citizens and not some H1-B visa foreigner who will cut and run when you figure out his work is crap and you want a refund after your system is trashed
3. Make sure that their skills are current with today's technology, not technology from over 2 decades ago (e.g. Pascal, Cobol, Basic, DBASE programmers)
Let's work backwards ...
3. What if what they are doing is only marginally connected with technology?
Most consultants who are closely focused on the latest tech are really contractors (doers not teachers/knowledge resourses). Yes, some consultants are hired to mentor a department in a technology that is new to the department ... but then you expect them to be knowledgeable in THAT tech (which may or may not be new).
The other side is that there is no point in asking for any particular technology if the consultant's duties aren't tech based. For example searching for a project management or process consultant who has .net experience is a waste of time, energy and money ... not to mention that it will tend to give bad results since neither of those disciplines particularly care what the underlying tech is (meaning if you get someone who does care they probably aren't really knowledgeable in the discipline you are hiring for).
2. Similarly most consultants don't work on hardware or software (at least not directly) so they can't trash your system (and probably wouldn't be in the U.S. under H1-B anyway). And no country has a lock on the knowledge in any field. Want to develop a strategy for the implementation of EMV and smart card? Better be prepared to seek outside the U.S. ... there are no Americans with experience (the U.S. is at the back of the pack).
1. This from a New Yorker? I wonder if someone from the deep south would say the same thing about you?
3. What if what they are doing is only marginally connected with technology?
Most consultants who are closely focused on the latest tech are really contractors (doers not teachers/knowledge resourses). Yes, some consultants are hired to mentor a department in a technology that is new to the department ... but then you expect them to be knowledgeable in THAT tech (which may or may not be new).
The other side is that there is no point in asking for any particular technology if the consultant's duties aren't tech based. For example searching for a project management or process consultant who has .net experience is a waste of time, energy and money ... not to mention that it will tend to give bad results since neither of those disciplines particularly care what the underlying tech is (meaning if you get someone who does care they probably aren't really knowledgeable in the discipline you are hiring for).
2. Similarly most consultants don't work on hardware or software (at least not directly) so they can't trash your system (and probably wouldn't be in the U.S. under H1-B anyway). And no country has a lock on the knowledge in any field. Want to develop a strategy for the implementation of EMV and smart card? Better be prepared to seek outside the U.S. ... there are no Americans with experience (the U.S. is at the back of the pack).
1. This from a New Yorker? I wonder if someone from the deep south would say the same thing about you?
A CEO sent in to sort out the mess at the Australian Department of Defence (probably due to consultant/contractor confusion)was reported as relating this joke:
What is the difference between a consultant and a shopping trolley?
You can't put as much beer and wine in a shopping trolley, but at least the shopping trolley has a mind of its own!
What is the difference between a consultant and a shopping trolley?
You can't put as much beer and wine in a shopping trolley, but at least the shopping trolley has a mind of its own!
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