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Calling for Reinforcements: When, Why & How to Work with Technology Consultants

Calling for Reinforcements: When, Why & How to Work with Technology Consultants. Trainer: Emily Bancroft NPower www.npower.org. Session Objectives. At the end of this session you will: Be able to decide when a consultant will be useful to your organization

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Calling for Reinforcements: When, Why & How to Work with Technology Consultants

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  1. Calling for Reinforcements: When, Why & How to Work with Technology Consultants Trainer: Emily Bancroft NPower www.npower.org

  2. Session Objectives • At the end of this session you will: • Be able to decide when a consultant will be useful to your organization • Be familiar with the recommended process for engaging with a subject area expert • Understand how to use a RFP to jumpstart your search for a consultant and to define your own project needs • Understand your rights and responsibilities, and those of a consultant, in any technology consulting engagement • Know how to distinguish volunteer opportunities from paid consulting opportunities

  3. How strongly do you agree with the following statements? • I feel comfortable articulating my technology needs to someone technical. • I believe my organization follows a sound process for choosing the right technology expert to help meet our needs.

  4. Situations when Consultants are Useful • What are some situations when a technology consultant is useful? • Don’t have the time of expertise in house • Needed a third party to mediate and make progress • Tried ourselves and were not successful • Wanted an outside perspective • Needed confirmation that we were on the right track

  5. Even though you have decided to use a consultant or volunteer for a project, you still have a lot of work to do . . . • What are some of the things that you can do to prepare your organization for a successful engagement with a consultant?

  6. Define your Project & Needs • No one knows your needs better than you. Don’t leave project definition up to a consultant. • Process Mapping • Definition of process mapping • When do you use process mapping? • Brainstorm ideal qualities of a consultant • Understand your responsibilities

  7. Process for Engaging Consultants • Write a request for proposal • Benefits and challenges • Components • Types of projects • Interview consultants • Prep your team • Know what you are looking for • Create a scope of work • Agreement of timeline, budget, and deliverables in writing • Review and joint sign off • Close the project • Documentation • Final meeting

  8. Using Volunteers • What project characteristics should you consider when deciding whether to engage a volunteer or a consultant? • Length of time of engagement • Importance to mission • Urgency • Scope of project • Time commitment • Follow-up needed • What technology project on your priority list might make a good volunteer project? Why?

  9. Final Tips & Resources • Remember that you are in charge! • Visit TechSoup (www.techsoup.org) for articles and how-to’s that will help you define and manage projects • Follow the process for engaging consultants, even if you are working with a volunteer • Refer to the other resources in your handouts for assistance

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