Using a Consultant

5. Preparing the Ground

5.1 Prepare an induction pack, including contact details for everyone involved, both inside and outside your business.

The more you can help the consultant to use time efficiently, the more value you will get.

5.2 Ensure preliminary research is completed.

• For an IT project, save time by giving the consultant details of existing equipment and software, and who uses what.

5.3 Communicate fully with your employees, to explain what the consultant's brief is.

• Otherwise employees may resent the intrusion and the additional work it causes. (See Managing change.)

5.4 Allow for the impact of the project on existing workloads.

• For example, a successful marketing project will create extra enquiries.