What Should Corporations Look for in Research Consultants?

Thursday September 6, 2012

Elite Research discusses what corporations should look for in consulting firms. Elite Research is a global provider of research design and statistical consulting. They support academic, corporate, medical/health, and non-profit researchers in designing, collecting, analysing, and reporting accurate results.

A business would look into hiring a consultant if they needed a different type of expertise not offered at the company. The type of consultant can vary and depend on a variety of things such as cost, deadlines, and specialty. The first step is to prioritize the goals of your project. Once you know what you want, it will be easier to find the right consultant. It is also important to evaluate what type of consultant will help you reach your goal before the hiring process begins. This will help you find someone who is truly valuable to the project.

The cost of a consultant can be tricky. A higher cost does not necessarily mean that they are a better consultant; however a lower cost consultant could cost more in the long run if they are less experienced. Correcting mistakes from bad consulting can be costly and very time consuming. A more experienced consultant is likely to produce better results in less time. Certification is not always an accurate indicator of success or experience, look for other indicators of accomplishment before hiring, such as past accomplishments and good recommendations. To find out the true experience of a consultant, go to the source. Talk to references and other people who have worked with them, this should be an accurate reflection on their experience.

Know who you are working with. Is your consultant self-employed, or are they associated with a firm? This is an important thing to investigate before hiring. It is important to know and feel comfortable with all of the people that you could be working with. If you are working with a firm, insist on a technical interview with your consultant. This will give you an opportunity to meet the person working on your project. If hiring them, insist to the firm that this must be the primary consultant on your project. This prevents the firm from switching around consultants, keeping your project consistent.

A consultant should be primarily for the implementation of a new process or project. They are usually temporary. Once the project is fully completed or the process has been implemented, the consultant should be able to walk away. Watch the consultant through the process to make sure that they are not getting too involved for “job security”.

Contact Elite Research today to get reliable help with all of your statistical, consulting, research, and editorial needs! http://eliteresearch.com/ or (800) 806-5661.

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