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MANAGING THE QUALITY

OF CONSULTING
ENGAGEMENT
APRILROSE V.
VALLESPIN

Project evaluation and


controls provide the means of
successfully administering the
work plan

The specific objectives of project


evaluation and controls are:
To

provide the assurance that the project


is on schedule and within budget.
To communicate the exact project status
of all concerned personnel.
To ensure that the quality product will be
implemented

The project controls generally


include the following
Administrative

controls
Time reporting procedures
Independent quality
assurance reviews

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
The project controls are formed at the organizational
stage of the project to provide the overall guidance and
control to the implementation process.
The administrative framework is organized which should
include individuals who have direct interest in the
quality of the final product

Administrative framework would normally


consist of :
One

or more client management


committees, with representatives
from the user areas
The top management
The information processing services
department

TIME REPORTING AND ANALYSIS


PROCEDURES
Time
reporting
and
analysis
procedures are necessary to keep the
project within the time schedule and
peso budget

These procedures aim to accomplish the following


objectives:
To provide project management with information
necessary for planning administering and controlling
the project
To prepare and control the project work program
updates
To assist the project leader in preparing management
status reports
To account for all time used on the project by the team
members

INDEPENDENT QUALITY ASSURANCE


REVIEWS
Among the more important objectives of quality assurance are to
ensure that:
The system satisfies all user requirements and is operable on a
day-to-day basis without assistance.
The system is being developed within the time frame and cost
estimates originally agreed upon.
The system employs satisfactory methods and techniques that
are within the sphere of competence of the majority of client
personnel.
The presentation and format of all procedures,
documentations and coding are neat, well organized and in
conformance with established client standards.

Quality assurance program includes the


following components:

Independent Reviews
Quality assurance checklists

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS
These reviews should be performed by
someone who
Is

not associated with the project, and

Has

a skill level at least as high as that


of the project leader

QUALITY ASSURANCE
CHECKLISTS
These checklist contain a series of
questions concerning the quality of work
performed and should be

prepared by the project supervisor


responsible for the work, and

Reviewed

by both the project leader and


the independent reviewer

MAINTAINING CONTROLS OVER


COMPETENCE AND SERVICE QUALITY
TWO types of controls
1. Preventive

controls)

2. Feedback

Controls (before-the-fact

Controls (after-the-fact controls)

To ensure the maintenance of sound controls over competence


and quality of services of consulting firm, the following steps
may be taken:

WService

review
Appointment of a practice
director and service coordinator
WEngagement analysis, and
WStaff evaluation

Special Considerations for the Sole


Practitioner Operating as a Management
Consultant

Framework for consulting business


Scope of consulting practice
Organizing the practice
Monitoring results

FRAMEWORK FOR THE CONSULTING BUSINESS


Self-Assessment

Make an autobiography

List all your special interest, achievement, knowledge, and personal satisfaction

List all your skills, that is, things that you can do

List all your talents

List all your attributes

List all the skills and attributes that you lack that you believe are necessary for
a consulting business

List the skills and attributes you lack related to being a consultant that you
believe you can improve

Of the skills and attributes that you believe you cannot improve

Speak to friends, relatives, or family members who know you well


judgment, candor, and goodwill you respect

and whose

Increase your awareness of additional opportunities by using the


following resources:
consulting newsletters
magazine and newsletters
consulting and professional associations
government agencies the publications
public and university libraries
continuing education courses and seminars
competitors

Define the consulting services areas that you would like to provide

Identify who you believe could be possible clients and why

Project how you would like to operate your consulting business

List how you intend to market your service

SCOPE OF CONSULTING
PRACTICE
Defined

by the expertise and


experience of the consultants
within the practice

ORGANIZING THE PRACTICE

Financing Requirements

Financing can be provided by capital invested


by the present consultant (or initial group of
consultants) or by funds borrowed from banks and
others.
Capital Requirements include the need for
working capital to pay basic monthly operating
expenses such as rent, telephone, utilities,
stationery, and perhaps secretarial services.

Time scheduling

To develop multiple consulting engagements, the


consultants will have a problem of time scheduling
-figuring out how to perform all of the work both
profitably and on time.

Billings and Collections

how he/she establishes professional fees

BUILDING THE PRACTICE

Initial Client Base


Positioning the practice
Practice development network

MONITORING RESULTS

Quality
Control

Standards

Performance Measures

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