Choosing a Breed
As my friend and boss, Brian, recently pointed out, there are three consultant breeds: contractor, data gatherer, and true consultant. Please stop and read his article on this subject; knowing how the breeds differ is important. I’ll wait. …hum, dee, dee….la, la, la… Okay, now let me point out some differences:

• Contractors: The contractor typically knows some of the technical details of the system, but lacks an overall knowledge of the business. That’s okay! This type of LIMS consultant is usually cheaper, and takes direction well. Also, this breed is easier to find. Check a local resource house for potential adoptees. If not available locally, look to a LIMS contracting firm or vendor. Just remember, unless you are talking about a highly technical resource, you shouldn’t have to pay the same rates as a breed with a full pedigree.
• Data Gatherers: This breed typically knows the product more thoroughly than the contractor, and may even have a background in the industry. You’ll probably pay more money for this breed, since it usually has a better pedigree.
• True Consultant: This is the breed with full knowledge of the product and industry, enough technical knowledge to architect solutions, and usually enough program manger experience to drive a small herd of contractors and data gatherers. This breed is more expensive, but well worth the money if you can find one.

Choosing an Individual
Once you have chosen the breed, you can start looking for an individual. Here’s what to look for:

• Pedigree: As mentioned above, make sure the potential individual has the proper credentials. Ask for a CV (otherwise known as a résumé), and look for education, training, competencies, and customer history. Remember, choosing a LIMS Consultant isn’t like choosing an employee. A qualified employee may require an MS in applied chemistry, but a good LIMS consultant may simply have a strong customer history. Unsure of the pedigree? Ask a simple question: “What is the difference between an electronic record and an electronic signature?” If he doesn’t know, he’s a contractor. If he hesitates he’s a data gatherer. If he smiles and gives you a simple example using the word “representation”, then he’s a true consultant.
• Communication: If you’re paying for a true consultant, this is key! Good verbal and written communication is absolutely required if you expect to get the most out of your LIMS consultant. If you’re simply looking for a contractor, then good technical skills may be substituted for good communication.
• Social Adjustment: Your new consultant must be well behaved. He or she must give reliable technical and business suggestions, follow instructions when given, and importantly, be accountable with time and resources.

Preparing for the Big Day
Once you have chosen your new LIMS consultant, carefully plan for the arrival. First, your new LIMS consultant will need an ID tag. Typically this means that you have cleared his arrival with, and requested an ID badge from, site security. Second, prepare a space for him to work, requisition a computer for the work space, and request an account so that he can access the company’s computer network. Third and finally, draft a thorough list of work you wish your new LIMS consultant to complete within the first week at his new organization. This list should include things like completing final confidentiality paperwork, filing the CV as a training record, drafting the project plan for future weeks, and getting your consultant fully oriented on department operating procedures.

The Arrival
If you’ve properly prepared, your new LIMS consultant’s first day in the organization will be a great pleasure! Be sure to introduce him to the organization, show him where to go potty, and (very importantly!) show him where the coffee machine is located. If all goes well, you’ll have all the paperwork and training out of the way in the first several hours, and you will immediately start benefiting from your new consultant.

Okay, allow me to make an aside: Your office or quality unit absolutely must be LIMS consultant-friendly on the very first day! Far too often I see organizations adopt a high-priced consultant only to allow him to sit around for the first two or three days because they have not fully prepared for the new arrival. This is a shame. It makes a bad impression on the consultant and wastes a huge amount of money. Think for a minute: A LIMS consultant runs $100-200/hour. Let’s call it $150/hour. Now, if your new LIMS consultant sits around for two days shuffling papers or doing secretarial work because you are digging around for an old Pentium 1 computer for him to connect to the company network, you have wasted $2,890 ($2,400 in hourly fees and around $490 in car rental, lodging and food). That same $2,890 could have been used to buy a shiny new Pentium 4 computer and given your organization two extra days of high quality consulting in return. And no, I’m sorry, I don't want to hear the old, “computer hardware and consulting fall under a different budget, hardware is an expense but consulting is a capital improvement yada, yada, yada…”. Talk to the hand. You’re the one who had to have the new LIMS consultant; don’t waste his time and he won’t waste yours.

Ongoing Care
Good LIMS consultants require little love and attention. If feasible, consider allowing your consultant to work from home rather than always traveling to your office or lab. Much consulting and technical work can be executed from a remote location providing that the consultant has access to the company network through a virtual private network (VPN), and you’ll save lots of money, since you’ll be saving on the travel expenses. In return, your consultant should be able to give you many weeks, or even years, of good advice, quality technical work, and an overall sense that the things you entrust him with will be executed in a controlled and reliable manner.

A big thank you goes to ThePetCenter.com for their article, “All About Puppies”. The first paragraph of this article was filched from their site and mangled for my own purpose.