Consult, engineer and implement

Most of the time you will most likely have the skills and timeline to achieve what you need. Sometimes this is not the case; maybe you have 'run out of steam' after trying all the solutions, or maybe someone has 'moved the goal posts' and you are 'out of time'. Sometimes you want to make sure you have explored all the possible solutions before you start work.

Consultants cannot be expected to be as familiar with the organisation as the managers, and are generally more expensive for each day of service than most employees, however, consultants provide valuable benefits and save you money in the long run:-

1. An independent viewpoint. Precisely because a consultant is not a member of the organisation, he or she brings objectivity and detachment to the problems faced by the organisation. Because the consultant is not involved in the internal politics of the informal organisation or cliques, the views and opinions of the consultant can be accepted as unbiased. The consultant may not be associated with any manufacturers or vendors so can also supply the best fit solution without any sales pitches.
2. Special experience & qualifications.  An experienced consultant possesses solid experience in real world scenario's, special knowledge, skills and a variety of personal attributes.  Although success cannot be guaranteed for every engagement, the consultant with the most suitable experience & qualifications should have the greatest probability of providing a satisfactory resolution.
3. Flexible Professional services.  organisations can find themselves short of critical resources or with an unforeseen change in time line in a given area. Engaging a consultant will most likely be less expensive in the long run than hiring new managers or employees. Return on investment (ROI), will probably in most cases exceed Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
4. Change Management.  Growing businesses must undergo periodic organisational changes to effectively manage a growing staff.  Consultants can conduct an organisational assessment, recommend changes to the organisational structure, make recommendations to the internal processes to maximize productivity, and help you implement the changes. Change Management should be based on ITIL principles wherever possible.

An IT consultant works in partnership with clients to overcome their business challenges through the application of technology. A consultant's work will often be based on the need to improve efficiency and the way a company functions, with IT used as a means to achieve this.

Most likely, they will know what is worth pursuing and investigating as a solution, making sure that you do not 're-invent the wheel' and helping 'sort the wheat from the chaff' to arrive at the best fit solution.

IT Consultants can also be responsible for user training and for feedback. In many companies, these roles will be carried out by different members of a project team.
The term IT consultant can itself be confusing, and people with this job title perform different roles in different organisations.

Typical work activities

The daily routine of an IT consultant is usually very varied and will depend on the size and nature of the organisation and the level at which the consultant is employed. Consultancy projects can last from a few hours to several years, depending on the client's requirements.
Some or all of the following activities may be undertaken:

• meeting with clients to determine requirements
• working with clients to define the scope of a project
• planning timescales and the resources needed
• clarifying a client's system specifications, understanding their work practices and the nature of their business
• travelling to customer sites
• liaising with staff at all levels of a client organisation
• defining software, hardware and network requirements
• analysing problems and making recommendations
• developing agreed solutions and implementing new systems
• presenting solutions in written or oral reports
• helping clients with change-management activities
• project managing the design and implementation of preferred solutions
• purchasing systems, where appropriate
• designing, testing, installing and monitoring new systems
• preparing documentation and presenting progress reports to customers
• organising training for users and other consultants
• being involved in computer sales and support and, where appropriate, maintaining contact with client organisations