Consulting Challenges

Summary

Gail Barrington

For those aspiring to have a thriving practice, this workshop addresses common problems encountered in the day-to-day running of a small consulting business and identifies some of the key issues faced by consultants.

Participants will problem solve around the ongoing challenges of a consulting practice. For those looking to fine-tune their current professional practice, a seasoned practitioner/award winner/author will share from her more than two decades of experience. Some new approaches to marketing will be explored and various pricing strategies will be examined for appropriateness in different commercial contexts. Methods for managing the consulting process from proposal to final report will be discussed and suggestions provided to keep studies on track and to avoid scope creep. Finally survival strategies will be explored including the decision to hire/not hire, how to foster innovation and reflection, and how to maintain work-life balance in this challenging but rewarding career.

Facilitator

Gail V. Barrington, Barrington Research Group, Inc.

Gail Barrington has more than 25 years of practical experience. She founded Barrington Research Group, Inc. in 1985 and has conducted more than 130 program evaluation studies. A frequent presenter at CES and AEA, she a book entitled Consulting Start-up & Management: A Guide for Evaluators and Applied Researchers (SAGE, 2012). She continues to blog and present webinars on consulting topics. In 2008, she won the Canadian Evaluation Society award for her Contribution to Evaluation in Canada.

Language

English

Level

Intermediate

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of the field will be useful; the workshop will  build on basic knowledge and skills.

Schedule

Sunday May 24 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Link to CES competencies for evaluators

  • Aware of self as an evaluator (knowledge, skills, dispositions) and reflects on personal evaluation practice (competencies and areas for growth)
  • Defines work parameters, plans and agreements
  • Identifies required resources (human, financial and physical)
  • Reports on progress and results
  • Identifies and mitigates problems / issues