An Extension of the Team
Embrace consultants as an extension of the team.
Even the best consultants can quickly become discouraged if they feel like they aren't part of the team. If you aren't transparent with the consultants and don't accept them as a true extension of your team, they will never be close enough to the project to completely understand it. Both teams are working together toward the same goal, so they should be privy to the same information and treated the same.
From the beginning, educate the consultants on your team about the greater picture of your product or service, and how they play a role in your success. Communicating your vision and welcoming them to your team will create more trust and appreciation, as well as the start of a lasting relationship.
5 Tips for Working with a Consultancy Firm
Both new and established companies face many challenges when it comes to getting their technology right. A company's team is its lifeblood, and selecting the right people to help execute the vision and accomplish business goals is crucial.
Many companies today are hiring outside experts to get a different perspective, extra horsepower, and unbiased specialized expertise across multiple functions. In fact, more than twice as many U.S. tech companies today are turning to outside consultants to help support their tech needs than in 2013, according to BDO's 2015 Technology Outlook Survey.
Consultancy firms can help with everything from one-off projects for companies that don't have enough time to pull together a team, to long-term projects that require a team with deep experience in an emerging or cutting-edge technology. Hiring a consultancy group can benefit early-stage companies by enabling them to focus on their business and products first, instead of on recruiting software developers. Established companies can benefit from a highly skilled and business-oriented external team that is ready for fast-paced product development and able to quickly adopt the company's methodology, infrastructure and process.
Selecting the perfect consultancy firm may seem daunting at first. In this slideshow, Theo Nissim, CEO at Gemini Solutions, has identified five tips to keep in mind when choosing and working with a consultancy company.
