This is a clever story that's on the funny side but has an insightful moral. Sometimes you have to take a step back in order to see the quick, simple solution is right in front of you.
The problem with consultants is that their expertise is usually in a higher layer of abstraction, compared to the ones that work on the place on a daily-basis.
The stereotypical consultant can only think about applying the same processes (mental- and business-) that s/he applied at all other gigs. Instead of adapting the process to the company culture, they want to change the company culture so that it can fit into the process.
Moreover, they usually have the wrong incentives. Someone who is used to charge by the hour has no reason to look for the most effective solution to the problem. If they got a six-month contract to build a better mouse-trap (or a faster horse), they will take that time to build, instead of trying to solve the problem from a different angle. And that's in the case they are actually good!
My immediate reaction was to run out and buy mousetrapster.com... not sure why, just seems like there's something fun one ought to be able to do with it.
3 comments
[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 14.7 ms ] threadThe stereotypical consultant can only think about applying the same processes (mental- and business-) that s/he applied at all other gigs. Instead of adapting the process to the company culture, they want to change the company culture so that it can fit into the process.
Moreover, they usually have the wrong incentives. Someone who is used to charge by the hour has no reason to look for the most effective solution to the problem. If they got a six-month contract to build a better mouse-trap (or a faster horse), they will take that time to build, instead of trying to solve the problem from a different angle. And that's in the case they are actually good!
...anyone got any ideas?