Consultant

A Consultant is a domain-specific professional that provides expert advice and specialized services to clients based on subject matter expertise.

• AKA: Advisor, Subject Matter Expert, Professional Counsel, Specialist.
• Context:
  • It can typically deliver Expert Recommendation through specialized knowledge application.
  • It can typically analyze Client Situation through diagnostic methodology.
  • It can typically solve Complex Problem through structured approach.
  • It can typically bring External Perspective through independent assessment.
  • It can typically transfer Domain Knowledge through client capability building.
  • ...
  • It can often identify Improvement Opportunity through comparative analysis.
  • It can often implement Best Practice through implementation guidance.
  • It can often facilitate Organizational Change through change management process.
  • It can often measure Performance Impact through outcome evaluation methodology.
  • ...
  • It can range from being an Independent Consultant to being a Firm-Based Consultant, depending on its consultant business structure.
  • It can range from being a Generalist Consultant to being a Specialist Consultant, depending on its consultant expertise focus.
  • It can range from being a Project-Based Consultant to being a Retainer-Based Consultant, depending on its consultant engagement model.
  • It can range from being a Strategic Consultant to being a Tactical Consultant, depending on its consultant engagement level.
  • It can range from being a Short-Term Consultant to being a Long-Term Consultant, depending on its consultant relationship duration.
  • ...
  • It can have Professional Credential for consultant credibility establishment.
  • It can have Industry Experience for consultant contextual knowledge.
  • It can have Consulting Methodology for consultant service delivery.
  • It can have Client Network for consultant business development.
  • ...
  • It can be Consultant Independent from client internal politics.
  • It can be Consultant Objective in client situation assessment.
  • It can be Consultant Accountable for consulting deliverable quality.
  • It can be Consultant Confidential with client sensitive information.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Consultant Specializations, such as:
    • Business Consultants, such as:
      • Strategy Consultant for corporate strategy development.
      • Management Consultant for organizational effectiveness improvement.
      • Operations Consultant for process optimization implementation.
      • Financial Consultant for financial performance enhancement.
    • Technology Consultants, such as:
      • IT Systems Consultant for technology infrastructure planning.
      • Software Implementation Consultant for enterprise software adoption.
      • Digital Transformation Consultant for digital capability development.
      • Cybersecurity Consultant for information security enhancement.
    • Industry Consultants, such as:
      • Healthcare Consultant for healthcare delivery optimization.
      • Retail Consultant for retail operation improvement.
      • Financial Services Consultant for banking process enhancement.
      • Energy Sector Consultant for energy efficiency implementation.
  • Consultant Structures, such as:
    • Solo Consultants, such as:
      • Freelance Consultant for specialized individual service.
      • Sole Proprietor Consultant for boutique consulting operation.
      • Portfolio Consultant for multiple client engagement.
    • Consulting Organizations, such as:
      • Boutique Consulting Firm for niche expertise provision.
      • Mid-Size Consulting Company for regional consulting service.
      • Global Consulting Firm for multinational consulting engagement.
      • Big Four Consulting Practice for comprehensive professional service.
  • Consulting Models, such as:
    • Time-Based Consultants, such as:
      • Hourly Consultant for flexible engagement arrangement.
      • Daily Rate Consultant for intensive work period.
    • Deliverable-Based Consultants, such as:
      • Fixed-Fee Consultant for defined scope completion.
      • Milestone-Based Consultant for phased project delivery.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Full-Time Employee, which maintains ongoing organizational relationship rather than temporary engagement.
  • Contractor, which executes predefined work rather than providing expert recommendation.
  • Vendor, which supplies product or service rather than customized solution.
  • Trainer, which focuses on skill development rather than problem solving.
  • Information Provider, which delivers data or content without solution implementation.
• See: Consulting Practice, Practitioner, Company Employee, Professional Service Provider, Advisory Relationship, Expert-for-Hire, Business Service.

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References

2021

• (Wikipedia, 2021) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consultant Retrieved:2021-5-7.
  • A consultant (from "to deliberate") is a professional (also known as Expert, Specialist, see variations of meaning below) who provides advice and further purposeful activities in an area of specialization.

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