Introduction
The objective of this paper is to provide advice and guidance in the choice of a consultant in the field of education. It is possible that the director or the director of a school or University, an official of an authority of local education (LEA) or school district, or the director of a private company wishing to carry out the work in the education sector. This article focuses on the technologies of information and communication technology (ICT), but the principles are also applied more generally.
Through a consultant
Consultants, at least in the United Kingdom, have a bad reputation as a species, and still are in ever greater demand. Why? Why would they choose to any organization that uses a consultant instead of hiring someone? There are several reasons for this.
Short-term employment
It is a work, by its very nature, in the short term. If, for example, has a new set of installed equipment, can some tips of a person outside that he has no axe to grind - and who can blame when half of the staff complains about the design, equipment and so on.
Experience
In a field of specialization, such as ICT, it is quite likely that the school does not have the experience internal to it have to do within a specified time.
Cost
While consultants may be expensive, it is (or should be) a spending relatively short term. And don't forget that they do not have all the above costs, such as pension contributions. These can add up to 20% of wage costs. Also, if the consultant goes on vacation or falls ill, do not incur any costs extra.
Choose a consultant
To choose a consultant or adviser to assist the school in ICT, either to support, training, strategic development practices or any other aspect of ICT, it is important that the right person or company for the job.
To help you do it, here is a list of questions, you may want to ask before hiring someone. It is not likely to find any person or company that can answer "Yes" to all these questions, so it must make their own professional judgement about its decision.
1.? It is the independent consultancy accredited by a system of quality assurance, by NaaceMark or similar? If it isn't, it seeks accreditation? Note that a response of "No" in any case is not necessarily a bad thing. In my experience, the work itself is so slow that it is very difficult to go through the hoops necessary to demonstrate that you can make what you are doing! For this reason are also important the next few questions.
2.? The consultant is member of an organization, such as (in the United Kingdom) Naace or society of education consultants? These types of organization provided a certain degree of quality in the sense that not only accept someone as a member, although they are not given guarantees the quality of the work done by its members. Also, they often provide useful information on the sector in which it works the consultant, in theory at least keeps the consultant updated on current developments in the field.
3. To request details of similar work done by the consultant and satisfied customers in detail-, but keep in mind that it may be a reluctance to provide such details due to confidentiality considerations.
4 Request references, testimonials or reviews in detail, i.e. testing of assurance of the quality of the work of consultants.
You can also ask how the consultant obtains most of his work. Word of mouth is a good sign.
6 Ask the CVs of the consultants that will work in your organization if you choose to register this consultancy.
7.? Is the qualified consultant to do the job? This could be a diploma of accreditation as an inspector or a provider of training in one or more schemes or rating experience.
8.? Has he been consultant of the relevant training in the last year?
9 Ensure that the consultancy does not accept contract out the work without prior discussion with you, the customer.
10. If you are considering the consultant for the training of staff, ask if you can attend one of its sessions of training in another school.
11 Request other evidence that will help you who decide whether the consultancy is the best for this work in your school, as a list of client (but the point note on previous confidentiality), examples of work in video, published or a Web site.
Through a consultant
Once it has decided for a particular consultant, they have a written agreement that ensures, for example, that you will be informed of the progress made. For example, is not reasonable to request a summary every two weeks, if you're a LEA and the consultant is working in their schools.
Once it has hired a consultant, make sure that obtain the best value for money. This means that some or even all the following values, depending on the particular circumstances:
They have a clear set of goals and objectives are both agreed. This can be developed in discussion with the consultant before signing on the dotted line, but there must be a clear set of expectations for the time consultant starts work.
Make sure that the consultant has the tools to do the job effectively. This could mean access to the computer network, space on the desktop, contact information, essential and so on.
Make sure that you have all the contact information you need too: telephone and fax numbers, a number of mobile phone, perhaps, with the possibility of leaving messages and an electronic mail address.
Set up everything you need for that the consultant to "run". If, for example, passes the first morning discussing what should be the consultant, is launching money: everything that should have previously - agreed unless, of course, there is a need for a sudden plan change, although even in situations there should be a backup (a "Plan B") plan in place.
Follow not asking for the consultant to do more and more in a type not planned way. If more work is needed, discuss whether viable could be made at the agreed time, or if they need to be spent on more days.
Conclusion
With appropriate bases to choose proper planning and a consultant, hire a consultant to help you with your work, ICT can be an excellent means of achieving the objectives of your organization.
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