Have you a project in mind already or are you exploring your options? You should start by defining your needs…

1. ASK YOUR QUESTION
HOW TO FIND THE
RIGHT CONSULTING FIRM
FOR A PROJECT?

2. The first step is to clarify your objective.

3. Have you a project
in mind already or
are you exploring
your options?

4. If you are
exploring your
options, you
should focus on
thought
leadership and
case studies.

5. Focus on the
problem to solve
and the results
you are looking
for.

6. Use LinkedIn, Harvard
Business Review,
Conavigo.com & the good
old search engine to
identify relevant thought
leadership.

7. Check who wrote the
articles and if they are still
part of the consulting firm.

8. Connect with them
and enter an RFI
process.

9. If you already have a
project in mind, you
should start by
defining your needs.

10. Build a list of key
markers, starting with
capabilities &
industries served.

11. Then ask yourself the following questions:
Geography & Footprint
• Does the scope of your project call for a global company or a company
with offices in a given country?
• Have you considered the travel expenses?
Size
• What are your policies regarding small firms or even independent
consultants?
• What is your timeline for your project?
Budget
• Do you have a specific budget in mind?
• How much flexibility do you have on it?

12. And continue with this:
Credibility
• Has the project a strong political component such as board exposure?
• Are you looking for a specific expertise?
• Do you need consultants with a specific background (former executives or
entrepreneurs for instance)?
Delivery model
• Is your project about designing a solution or implementing a solution?
• Are you looking for a collaborative approach? Or are you more focused on
getting the results as soon as possible?
 Culture
• Is there a strong cultural component in this project?
• Do you need the consultants to speak a specific language for example?

13. When you have
your list, define
your priorities.

14. Now you can start searching…

15. Find the right sources…
Start with internal resources
• List of Preferred Providers, an internal database of Consulting Firms, or a
list of Consulting Firms in your field.
• Your network/colleagues that have worked previously with Consultants
• Database of evaluation reports or previous bids
 Broaden your list with new candidates
• Directory of Consulting Firms, such as conavigo.com
• Articles and books written on the field you are interested in
• List of professional associations in your industry or in the capability you
need
• Plain and simple Google Search (or Qwant or DuckDuckGo)

16. What’s next?
Build a first list of potential candidates
• The size will depend on your project size.
• 30% don’t have the right Profile and 30% that are not available or
interested
Dig into the specifics
• Have a close look at the case studies or the past projects posted on the
website.
• Screen also the past clients.
• Look at the background of the founders
• Examine their methodologies and their approach
 Spot the right partner to connect with
• Don’t just contact anybody on the Consulting Firm, especially larger ones.
• Every Partner has a different range of skills and experience, and it will

17. The final step is to talk to them and
check their references.
After all, consulting is about trust, isn’t
it?

18. Hélène Laffitte
Cofounder & CEO
• Consulting Sourcing Expert
• Author of Smart Consulting
Sourcing
• MBA Columbia Business School
Want to learn more?
Contact me & start creating
more value.
+1 (646) 477 5953
Follow us on the web
CREDITS PHOTOS FROM UNSPLASH
Cover – Warren Wong
Slide 1 – Jukan Tateisi
Slide 2 – Jon Tyson
Slide 3 – Janko Ferlic
Slide 4 – Paul Skorupskas
Slide 7 – Toa Eftiba
Slide 9 – Glenn Carstens-Peters
Slide 10 – Ricardo Annadale
Slide 14 – Yifei Chen