In Consideration Of Outsourcing
Have you considered outsourcing your training or documentation projects? When making this decision that can substantially impact your bottom line, keep some key considerations in mind.
Training development consultants should bring not only their own professionalism and experience to the job, but also that of the company they represent. Consultants should be equipped with methodology, processes, tools and aides that have proven successful on other projects.
Attempting to find individuals with below-average rates is likely to result in relatively inexperienced people. The consequences of this inexperience can be many, because fully-experienced consultants...
- ...frequently outpace less-experienced vendors, and they are more conscious of quality in the process. While you may pay more for an experienced consultant, you get your money's worth in deliverables design, usability, quality and effectiveness.
- ...design and develop material with an eye to the future, incorporating maintainability.
- ...usually spot issues before they become problems.
- ...can grasp overall project goals, then ensure that their own deliverables complement and support those desired outcomes. Pulling from experience, they can generate creative solutions based on the business environment and need.
Working with good consultants with proven track records should be more economical and sure than using internal resources. If your internal resources are already fully booked with work, stretching them a bit more has the potential to cause other issues and lower morale.
Fact vs. Fiction
When thinking about a consultant provider, separate the fact from the fiction. Target your requirements, then look for a specialist. Some companies try to be everything to everyone, resulting in watered down expertise.
Talk to references. Ask specifics regarding effectiveness, results, and value added in the account management process. Exuberance without backing may be an indicator of fiction, not fact.
Compare account management efforts. Make sure that your source removes as much risk from you as possible, while still providing creativity and innovation. Ensure that no part of the equation is sacrificed: budgets, deadlines, project success and goals/vision.
Ask for the process behind the estimates to ensure that your bid is as accurate as possible. You require estimates based on fact, not guesses based in fiction. For example, vendors should be able to "chunk" the material down to one quotable estimate, giving a realistic idea of costs and effort.
Watch out for "low-ball" bidding and its down-the-line successor "scope creep"...a series of tactics that turn a seemingly cheap project into a costly, hard-to-pin-down exercise. These tactics throw estimates and bids out the window, as they are based simply on getting the bid rather than project analysis. Both clients and consultants lose when these tactics are employed.
Success-oriented Actions
Good business practices and actions support the successful completion of a project. Due diligence pays off to make sure that your supplier is providing you with the best talent, backed by the best protocols. Ask about processes, methodology and protocols for not only project deliverables, but account and consultant management as well.
Being attentive to a supplier's requests for review and turnaround of documents is critical to a project's timely completion. Establish upfront the availability of subject matter experts who are key players. Additionally, insist on status and budget reporting from your supplier, which can support you in making effective project decisions.
Making yourself available to the account manager from the consultant provider enables him/her to afford you the best possible service. Any problematic issues that may arise can be effectively and efficiently resolved to ensure that your project outcome is successful.
Expect top quality from your suppliers and insist on solutions tailored to your business challenges. Don't accept sub-standard products or services, and don't agree with generic, off-the-shelf answers. You're paying for expertise.
In Summary
If you are considering outsourcing, these tips should help you on your way to selecting top-notch training and development consultants with a proven record of accomplishment who exceed your expectations.
