Fools (Often) Rush In: Why Hiring a Consultant Before Hiring FTEs to Build an Alliances Team is Key
Ask yourself if you’ve seen this pattern before: A tech company has received some market signals that they would benefit from ecosystem alliances. As result, with “time-to-market” urgency, they enthusiastically hire FTEs to build the function. But, more often than not, they miss the mark with their org structure and/or the skills set(s) they hire. And, hey, let’s not judge. It’s hard to fault a sense of urgency. As the saying goes: “Time is money!!!”
In the world of technology alliances, success hinges on strategic foresight, meticulous planning, and precise execution. When organizations rush to hire full-time employees (FTEs) before crafting a clear strategy, they raise the likelihood of missteps that can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and costly mistakes.
In this blog, we'll explore the merits of hiring a consultant before committing to FTEs in the context of technology alliances, highlighting the benefits of leveraging external expertise to develop a robust strategy and maximize the chances of success.
Crafting Strategy Before Building the Team
Understanding the Outcome: The foundation of any successful endeavor, including technology alliances, lies in understanding the desired outcome. Before building a team or making significant investments, organizations must define their objectives, whether it's driving revenue growth, expanding market reach, or fostering innovation.
Crafting the Strategy: With a clear understanding of the desired outcome, the next step is crafting a strategic roadmap to achieve it. This involves identifying potential alliance opportunities, assessing market dynamics, evaluating competitive positioning, and formulating a plan that aligns with organizational goals and resources.
Building the Organization: Only once the strategy is defined (and designated as worth pursuit) should organizations proceed to build their internal team. Hiring FTEs without a clear strategy in place risks misalignment, inefficiencies, and wasted resources. Instead, organizations can benefit from leveraging external consultants to develop and refine their strategy before making long-term commitments.
Here it’s important to note the possibility that, once the strategy is outlined and the associated org structure is identified, it could be determined that the ROI isn’t there to justify the effort. “The juice won’t be worth the squeeze,” as the idiom goes. This potential assessment makes hiring a consultant up front that much more meritorious. Spend a little now to potentially save a LOT later.
The Role of Consultants in Alliance Strategy Development
Efficient and Cost-Effective Expertise: Consultants bring specialized expertise and a fresh perspective to the table, allowing organizations to develop a robust alliance strategy efficiently and cost-effectively. By tapping into external resources, organizations can access a diverse range of skills and insights without the overhead costs associated with hiring full-time employees.
Objective Advice and Guidance: Unlike internal stakeholders who may be influenced by corporate politics or biases, consultants provide objective advice and guidance focused solely on delivering the best strategy for the desired outcome. Their impartiality and external perspective enable them to challenge assumptions, identify blind spots, and uncover opportunities that internal teams may overlook.
Flexibility and Agility: Consultants offer flexibility and agility that may be lacking in traditional organizational structures. They can ramp up or down resources based on project needs, adapt to changing priorities, and provide specialized expertise on demand, allowing organizations to remain nimble and responsive in dynamic environments.
Conclusion: Spend a Little Now to Get a Lot More Later
In the landscape of technology alliances, success favors those who approach strategy development with precision and foresight. By hiring a consultant before committing to FTEs, organizations can unlock the full potential of their alliance initiatives, develop a robust strategy aligned with their objectives, and maximize the chances of success. With external expertise and impartial guidance, organizations can navigate the complexities of alliance development with confidence, agility, and efficiency, setting the stage for sustainable growth and competitive advantage in the digital age.
