What can I do to try and ensure that I get ‘value’ when engaging an expert or specialist adviser?
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Bill Brown, Director, Greenwich Leisure Ltd
In general terms, you have to be clear what you believe is the problem that needs solving and what outcomes you are expecting from the engagement. You also need to set the engagement in context by ensuring the expert has a good understanding of your company’s business, strategic objectives and future plans. It is reassuring if the expert has past knowledge of and direct experience in your business sector.
More specifically, the letter of engagement (or other form of contract) should clearly set out:
• The agreed scope of the work to be undertaken
• The issues to be addressed (possibly set out in the form of questions to be answered)
• Methodology or approach to be adopted
• The team who will carry out the work (with their qualifications and experience)
• Detailed terms – fee basis (fixed or hourly rate), timing of invoicing, timing of payment, treatment of ‘variation’ claims, termination procedure.
• Copyright – who owns any content or material produced as part of the engagement
• Agreed level of any limitation of liability
• Method of reporting back – formal written report, slide presentation, workshop.
It is also important that you maintain a regular dialogue with the lead member of the team to ensure the assignment is on track and will deliver the agreed outcomes in the agreed time scale.
Bill Brown
Added by: Paula Calkbrenner Date updated: 30 Jan 2012 15:04, Date added: 20 Sep 2011 16:17
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More specifically, the letter of engagement (or other form of contract) should clearly set out:
• The agreed scope of the work to be undertaken
• The issues to be addressed (possibly set out in the form of questions to be answered)
• Methodology or approach to be adopted
• The team who will carry out the work (with their qualifications and experience)
• Detailed terms – fee basis (fixed or hourly rate), timing of invoicing, timing of payment, treatment of ‘variation’ claims, termination procedure.
• Copyright – who owns any content or material produced as part of the engagement
• Agreed level of any limitation of liability
• Method of reporting back – formal written report, slide presentation, workshop.
It is also important that you maintain a regular dialogue with the lead member of the team to ensure the assignment is on track and will deliver the agreed outcomes in the agreed time scale.
Bill Brown