THE FINE LINE
(THE
CONSULTANT, THE PROJECT MANAGER AND THE CONTRACTOR)
August 2024
In
the quest for efficiency and high productivity, people were required to carry
out specific tasks, hence the term division of labour came into being. Just
like you could use a hoe for digging and a shovel as well, the aim of the
digging would determine the most efficient tool to use.
I am business consultant
(Propeller Consults) and I will tell you this for free, as a business
consultant I can provide you with a general overview of your business
performance and also provide a general business strategy to guide towards
improvement, but compared to a marketing/sales strategist I may not be at a 100
percent in providing workable recommendations and vice versa.
Just as the cheaper
option isn't always the best when you need something to last long, multitasking
isn't a great choice either if you are aiming for efficiency and improved productivity.
Generally, as we all know assigning individual roles and responsibility
improves productivity.
· So,
who then is a CONSULTANT? What is it that they actually do?:
Consultants operate in
many different fields ranging from businesses to occupations. There are even
consultants to help authors overcome writer's block. A consultant is simply
anyone who gives advice, guidance, or prefer recommendations or perform other professional
or semiprofessional services in return for compensation. This term could be
alternatively used with the word “Coaching”.
·
Why People may need a consultant:
You
may need a consultant for one or more of the following reasons, either as an
individual or an organization. They are as follows;
1. The
need for personnel. To help with recruitment exercises.
2. The
need for fresh ideas. Developing and implementing campaigns.
3. Company
politics. Someone with an objective view on the situation.
4. The
need for improved sales. Developing marketing strategies.
5. The
need for capital. Fund sourcing and its implications.
6. Government
regulations. How policies may affect business operations.
7. The
need for maximum efficiency.
8. The
need to diagnose problems and find solutions.
9. The
need to train employees.
10. The
need for a complete turnaround. For organization restructuring.
11. Computer,
Internet and Data Processing.
·
Now over to the PROJECT MANAGER:
First
off let’s talk about what a Project is; A project is a temporary
endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result. Unlike an
operation that happens continually and has a low risk associated with it, a
project happens once and has a relatively high level of risk and uncertainty.
A
Project Manager is responsible for the planning, executing,
monitoring, controlling, and completion of projects. And he does so by the
application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to meet project requirements.
Responsibilities
of a Project Manager
What
is a Project Manager’s specific role and duties: A Project
Manager is tasked with the responsibility to;
1.
Build the plan.
2.
Assemble the team.
3.
Assign the tasks.
4.
Lead the team.
5.
Managing budget.
6.
Managing timeline.
7.
Engaging stakeholders.
8.
Handover the project.
9. Document the process.
·
Lastly, we have THE CONTRACTOR, and
what is his job:
A
contractor or builder is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a
construction site, management of vendors and trades (in cases of procurement or
logistics and supply), and the communication of information to all involved
parties throughout the course of the project.
Legally,
if you sign a contract to perform a specific job then you are what is known as a
contractor. This applies to consultants too. Simply
put, you have been contracred to carry out an operation or a given task.
Another
name for a contractor is “Supervisor”. Generally, the
client who could either be an individual or an organization appoints a
contractor to handle their project, but in cases where a project manager is involved,
he/she can be the middleman between the client and contractor. A project
manager's service is more fluid and dynamic as opposed to contractors. They are
not limited to just construction projects. There are expert project managers in
various fields.
Roles
And Duties of a Contractor
1. Finding
the right people to get the job done (Sourcing for labour).
2. Taking
care of materials, equipment, and any other services required for the smooth
development of the project.
3. Building
permits application.
4. Property
Security.
5. Providing
(temporary) facilities on site.
6. Taking
care of generated waste.
7. On-site
generated waste.
8. Site
surveying.
9. Site
engineering.
10. Schedule
monitoring.
11. Quality
assurance.
References
William, H. C. phd (2009). How to make
it big as a consultant (4th Ed).
Semire, S. (2023, October 30).
Procurement
and contract management masterclass [PowerPoint slides].
Semire, S. (2023, November 6).
Project
management masterclass [PowerPoint slides].
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