HOW PACN CONSULTANTS CAN HELP

The members of the Phoenix Area Consultants Network (PACN) have developed exceptional levels of expertise through many years of experience. You can use this expertise and experience to solve problems that you otherwise might not be able to do.  Our consultants can provide a high level of technical competence in a very cost effective and timely manner.  The real advantage of a consultant is that you can obtain the specific capability you need, and you pay for that capability only when you need it. Since our consultants usually work for more than one client at a time, it is often the case that a specific consultant can be available on relatively short notice. Of course, it is always best to plan ahead. 

A consultant like any other worker is most effective when his objectives and tasks are clearly defined. It is not always necessary to have all of this worked out in advance. Often the best path to follow is uncovered only as you work through a project. But, in any case, a consultant must be fully aware of the tasks in front of him and what is expected of him if he is to be used effectively and fruitfully. 

WHAT IS A CONSULTANT

• An accredited expert in one or more technical, scientific, or organizational fields
• An independent contractor, who can exercise on objectivity in judgment
• An individual who is trained to solve problems and provide results quickly
• A seasoned professional with many years of experience in his or her field
• Someone who can help you now!

WAYS TO HIRE A CONSULTANT

There are two ways to use consultants, and which way is best for a specific project really depends on the nature of that project.  

Traditional Consulting

Generally, our consultants are available on a time and expense basis which is the usual case with traditional consulting. The advantages are that you only pay when the consultant is actively working on your project. You do not pay for time spent on overhead functions or anything like that. Also, since the consultant is an independent contractor, you don't pay any taxes related to his employment, a hidden cost that is often not considered. Taking these issues into account, a consultant is considerably less expensive that a regular employee with similar capability.  

Another advantage of the traditional approach and probably the most important one is that you can define the consultant's tasks as you go along making whatever changes are appropriate. This gives you a valuable degree of flexibility if you are moving into uncharted territory. 

Fixed Price Jobs

Many of our consultants will also take jobs on a fixed price basis as long as the scope can be well defined in advance. This approach has the advantage to you that you know what you are going to get and how much it is going to cost up front. It is also good for the consultant in that he knows what level of effort he is committing to your project and over what period of time. There are no open ends for either party. This approach is usually good for everyone, but the tasks must be clearly identified at the beginning.  Of course, it is always possible to renegotiate if things change. 

IDENTIFY THE RIGHT CONSULTANT

Identify the technical area that most closely fits your needs form the list on our home page and on our page Areas of Members' Expertise and link to the page that identifies the consultants that work in that field. You can then link directly to their resumes. Don't be too concerned about an exact match with your requirements. A consultant may have considerable experience in areas not fully described in his resume.  You can then call the consultants that seem to fit your needs and discuss the project with him.  You will quickly come to a conclusion as to whether this is the right person for the job. 

WHEN IS A CONSULTANT MOST EFFECTIVE

Consultants provide specialized expertise on an immediate as-needed basis.  they are accredited experts in one or more technical, scientific or organizational fields who can exercise objectivity in judgment. Our consultants are seasoned professionals with many years of experience who can provide results quickly. 

A consultant is most effective:

• Whenever you need someone with specialized skills not available within you organization
  • All of our consultants possess a high level of training and are up-to-date on state-of-the-art technical and scientific developments
• When you need skilled professionals to assist you when your long-term requirements are uncertain
  • Use of consultants can be very cost effective when you need professional help with difficult or short-term projects
• When you are in need of expert help with the introduction of a new product or process 
  • A consultant can provide immediate assistance with a new project, which will keep your regular staff free to continue with its duties
• When you need an impartial and objective evaluation of organizational or management plans 
  • A consultant can provide you with an unbiased solution to organizational needs without being affected by company "policies" or internal conflicts
• When you need independent assessment of progress and help in setting project goals and approaches
• When you need help in solving unanticipated problems or need help with short term staffing problems

WHAT WILL IT COST

Cost, of course, is negotiated directly with the consultant. However, consultants are generally very cost effective since they do not incur overhead. Since the consultant is an independent contractor, the employer does not have to pay any taxes for the consultant such as social security, medicare, unemployment or anything else. The employer does not have to withhold any taxes from the consultant's compensation either, a function that carries hidden cost.  The consultant does not get paid for holidays, vacation, sick time or anything like that. And when the job is done, the consultant goes away until the next time you need him, and you don't have to pay him in the meantime. 

When you add up all of these factors, a consultant is very cost effective indeed.