Why hiring consultants is like getting drunk on whisky

When a recent silicon.com CIO Jury asked if external consultants deliver value for money, the 12-strong panel was split with most warning consultants need to be tightly managed to get the best value for money.

The hung jury's verdict mirrored silicon.com readers comments on whether consultants are an asset or unnecessary expenditure to the business.

One reader wrote: "Of course consultants can be a waste of money. But so can using your regular people if they don't know what they are doing or are poor at controlling costs or project management."

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Readers warned employers need to be careful when selecting consultants to avoid splashing the cash. One reader said: "If you get a genuine consultant who has substantial experience and expertise you can get excellent value for money. If you get someone labelled as a consultant who has little experience then it can be an expensive waste of money."

Another reader blamed managerial motives for employing consultants. He said consultants provide managers with a scapegoat if the situation turns sour but a way to take credit if the right consultant is employed and gets the right result.

Similes were also running high with readers – as one claimed consultants were like a baby's nappy which "should be changed often, and for the same reason" while another reader said consultants are like a high-quality whisky.

He added: "Choose the best, even though the price is high. Cheap whisky in large quantities just gives you a nasty hangover after a period of dizziness."