Windows 7 Consulting Firms and Companies
Welcome
to the Windows 7 Consulting page.
We plan to be a guide and a resource for companies when they are critically assessing and analyzing which consulting firms to use for deployments of Windows 7.
What is a consulting firm? Well, it's simply a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee.
In the case of Windows 7 consulting firms or consultants, this would be individuals or companies who are proficient in the planning, deploying, training and supporting of Windows 7 and related products.
Since Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 are so closely related, these individuals or companies should probably be proficient in big picture planning -i.e. how Windows 7 will be affected by the different components in your enterprise.
Now there are a million consulting firms out there so how do you pick out which ones you should use?
The Windows 7 Consulting Firm Directory
We are creating a new directory on this site of companies who are skilled in Windows 7 deployments and implementations. We will be evaluating companies who apply for listings and will only list companies that we can stand by.
Check out the Windows 7 Consulting Firm Directory.
You can choose from a wide range of firms--from the "Big 5"
to small "boutique" firms that offer very specialized
services. In general, small "boutique" firms can offer more
focused services, whereas larger firms tend to be more
expensive, but may also be more flexible in scheduling your
engagement.
If the consultants can’t "speak your language," it will not only be difficult for them to understand your needs, you’ll also find yourself spending valuable time educating them about your business.
In addition, the firm will not be able to provide ideas
on innovative practices used by others in your field to make
their businesses more successful.
The best way to find a firm with a proven track record in
your industry is by word of mouth. Contact your colleagues
in organizations of similar size and function, and ask for
names of firms they‘ve used with success. Professional
organizations are another good resource.
You may also consider asking the opinion of companies that
provide you with services.
For example, if you’re looking for help in redesigning your financial department’s processes, ask your accountants to recommend a good consulting firm. If your project is a computer system implementation, ask the vendor you’ve selected for names of several firms familiar with their software package.
Keep in mind that your sources will have their own
biases, so be sure to research ALL potential firms before
making a final selection, regardless of where you obtain
your recommendations.
If you’re unable to find references within your own circle
of contacts, many other resources can help you identify
candidate firms. Industry publications often include
articles written by consultants.
Scan these magazines and newsletters for articles related
to your project. If the consultant’s views and opinions are
similar to yours, you may have found a good candidate. These
publications may also include advertisements for firms
specializing in your industry.
You can also search for sites that contain articles and
advertisements that may help you identify potential firms.
Many sites offer the ability to e-mail contacts at their
website--use these to request information on firms
specializing in your industry.
Evaluating the candidates
Once you’ve narrowed down a list of candidate firms,
you’re ready to conduct pre-proposal meetings to clarify
project objectives and questions with interested
consultants. The project scope document you’ve created
should be forwarded to these firms several days before your
interviews to allow them to become familiar with your goals.
You should interview at least two prospective
consultants--even if you’ve already identified a probable
candidate for the job. Talking in depth with consultants
from different backgrounds, who may have different
approaches or techniques, will help you better understand
the problems you are tackling and identify practical
solutions.
During the interviews, make certain you ask each candidate
the same questions so that you can establish a fair standard
for comparison. Some questions to ask include:
- How long have you been in business?
- What types of projects/issues are your specialty?
- What markets do you serve?
- How do you measure success?
- What resources are available to you for completion of the project (staff, sub-contractors, etc.)?
- Can you meet the time schedule?
- What communication tools do you use to inform your clients of the project status?
- How do you charge (per hour, per day, per project)?
- What are your billing rates?
- What types of expenses do you require reimbursement for?
- Do you require a deposit?
- Do you guarantee value added outcomes?
Be sure to also request samples of the firm’s work as
well as a client list with names and phone numbers of
references.
Based on the consulting firm’s responses to your questions,
you should get a feel for how they operate.
Consulting engagements should complement your operations, not assume control of them.
Do the consultants listen to your needs, or do they tell you what your needs are? Good consultants will educate your managers and enhance their skills.
Does the firm want to "come in and do it all" or work
with your staff to train and educate them?
In addition, the consultants you hire should perform the
work as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. Make
sure the firm does not view your company as an open check
book.
Finally, the consultants you hire should offer innovative
solutions to your problems. Do they ask creative questions
about the project? Have they provided you with some
information or insights you had not previously considered?
After your interviews are complete, narrow down the field to
two or three candidates (if you’ve interviewed more) and
request written proposals. The consultants’ proposals should
include the following items:
- A summary of the work to be performed
- Deliverables included in each step of the project
- Timeline for completion
- Billing rates and payment schedule
- Resumes or profiles of the actual consultants who will perform the work
As you evaluate the proposals, balance the importance of quality and experience with the budget for the project.
While all companies would like to contract with the "cream of the crop," it’s not always feasible with the allotted budget.
Try to find the best option you can afford with the money available. If the experience you require cannot be found within the project budget, you may have to redefine the scope of your project or increase your budget.
Lastly, be skeptical but realistic. Windows 7 (and Windows Server 2008 R2) are relatively new pieces of technology and it will take a little while for tech resources to ramp up and become proficient. Have your internal team go to training and make sure that they shadow the consultants to pick up valuable knowledge.
