CONSULTING

I have been helping individuals, teams, and organizations get the most out of their internal tools, apps, and systems since 1998. (Yikes.)

Since that time, the tech landscape has undergone a veritable sea change. Some of the software vendors whose wares I used to implement no longer exist. (Lawson and PeopleSoft are just a few of them. Times change.)

These days, I offer a number of tech-related advisory services. This page summarizes them, but let me know if you’ve got something else in mind.

Strategic Advising

All else being equal, the larger the organization, the greater the tendency to grow stagnant. The tech suffers. Business processes become (more) inefficient. Employees become frustrated. A vicious cycle develops and exacerbates over time.

I can help your organization balance current needs with future ones. No, your firm doesn’t need to be on the bleeding edge and immediately adopt the latest shiny new thing. Still, remaining woefully behind the technological times poses great risk.

Let me help you find a happy medium.

Tech Audits

Make no mistake: What worked even two years ago might not cut the mustard any longer. A proper tech audit can help identify your organization or team’s:

• Security risks.
• Potential cost savings.
• Improvements in communications.
• Redundant applications and systems.
• And more.

Vendor Evaluation

As I’ve seen firsthand, sometimes salespeople lie. Don’t tell anyone. I remember one in particular justifying his half-truths by saying, “It’s software.” The implication: It’s malleable. You can make it do anything.

That technically might be true, but there’s a chasm between what a tool does out of the box and what ethically challenged folks claim when their bonuses depend on getting to yes.

Brass tacks: An honest, independent set of ears and eyes can help organizations avoid making expensive tech gaffes that can cost senior executives their jobs. Large and even boutique consultancies are often in bed with big software vendors, compromising their viewpoints and, ultimately, recommendations.  

Over the last quarter-century, I’ve learned which questions to ask. At the risk of being immodest, some of my prescriptions have saved my clients from costly mistakes and a world of pain.

Other Services

At times, organizations have hired me for very specific purposes, such as:

• Implementing the ideas discussed in my books.
• Solving thorny data issues.
• Running payroll because—and I’m not making this up—it had to terminate the incumbent payroll manager for doing exactly what you think.
• Building custom reports and systems.
• And a few others that I can’t divulge. I respect NDAs.

Parting Words

No tech consultant can be everything to everybody. If someone tells you otherwise, run.

There’s no sense in trying to cram a square peg into a round hole. If your needs don’t match my skill set, I’ll be the first to tell you. I may even be able to recommend an independent firm or consultant for the job.