Anyone have a "consultants" experience, ala Office Space?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

My organization is about to do that. While it was seen as a bad thing in Office Space, I imagine that it will be extremely positive for us. Mostly we're doing it to prove to our Board of Directors that we're way understaffed, way underpaid, and (at least this is the goal for myself and the rest of the office) that we're way over-micromanaged by our boss. None of these things are hard to prove in the least, it's just a lot more credible to have an outside source do it.

So, has anyone had any experiences with this type of thing? Positive or negative...

[nosillies]

1. I've done it. (been a consultant)

First let me say that some consultants are full of shit. Reading six sigma crap and learning all the cool new corporate-speak terminology does not make one special. If you ever hear a consultant talking about shifting paradigms or leveraging anything, please bitch slap them.

But someone who provides an objective review from an outside POV of an organization can be so helpful. And some group, most likely some form middle management, will be pointed out as the main group responsible for all the inefficiencies, morale issues, all the bad stuff, really. As you said, it's usually pretty obvious who's screwing up and how they're doing it.

But here's the problem: it somehow winds up that the very ones responsible for the problems are usually the ones asked to implement the changes and create the action plans suggested by the consultants. So the consultants do a great review, there's lots of buy-in, and the ABSOLUTELY JACK SHIT HAPPENS. I've seen it happen way to many times. Some people just don't want change.

So my suggestion is that if the ideas presented by the consultants are really beneficial, ride some ass to make sure changes happen.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Oh, believe me, ass is being pre-emptively ridden.

I actually think change CAN be achieved in this case, and I'm a fairly cynical guy. Plus, I've got the incoming Board President on my side.

I agree the six sigma crap is BS, but this is more about the objective review. We just need to prove to the Board what we see every day isn't just us bitching and moaning.

[nosillies]

3. Then it sounds like you already have a great set-up to get what you need

Good luck with it all! As I like to say, stupid always outs itself. Sometimes it just needs a little shove. Hopefully the consultant will do the shoving for you!

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. I used to work for one of the Big Ones of consulting -

good stuff, most of the time, IMO. Sometimes not helpful, but I found that when it was helpful was when the people at the company hiring us actually wanted something helpful and were willing to do new things or change their behaviors. But companies didn't usually hire us unless they were really serious about it, since we cost so bloody much.

God, I have to admit, I *loved* sending out bills. There was just something cool about typing billable amounts in the seven figures.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. Well, three of the four senior employees are planning on leaving if changes are made.

So, I don't think there will be much problem in seeing changes made. I do think it'll make a world of difference for us.

I don't blame you for enjoying the billing part. :-)

[KurtNYC]

5. i think if they are brought in to kick pre-determined butt then it can

be effective in avoiding hard feelings between the people on the client side. The consultant gets to be the bad guy in the eyes of the "problem" and will be a mixed positive for staff who aren't creating the problem. Ideally they get you through the hump of transition into procedures where the problem cannot do their problematic stuff. I take what you describe as a good sign. It seems there is a priority on getting this solved but also on trying to have everyone get along when it's done.

But I have seen consultants that just write buzzwords on Powerpoint slides and say back to you what you said to them one week ago and then send a bill. This kind of consulting tends to make things worse. It is like surgeon who opens up, starts the operation but can't close. And they're billing the company the whole time.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. We're not hiring the latter style of consultant - at least that's not the plan.

I'll be handing in my two-weeks notice if that's how it turns out... :grr: