So when it comes to a list of best practices, this one can't be overlooked. Don 't assign people to new projects until the documentation is done. Hire consultants only when your staff doesn't have time for a project, not when it doesn't have the necessary skills, says Joel Snyder, senior partner with Opus One, a networking consultant in Tucson, Ariz., and a Network World Test Alliance Partner. Likewise, when a consultant is on-site, schedule a lot of quick update meetings. Also be sure that the consultant is operating from a well-written scope of work.
Most people don 't take the time to properly design what the consultant is to do.
An effective scope of work details exactly what is to be done, within what time frame, in demonstrable terms. But it's tougher than it sounds. It includes enough precision to create understanding, yet is flexible enough to reflect changes mandated by Murphy's Law. Have two or three primary vendors - no more, no less, Kassabian advises. Vendor relationships are difficult and time-consuming.