ABSTRACT
Consultants are paid to give advice and sometimes, to assist in implementing that advice. They are not 'an extra pair of hands' – that is contract labour, a subject in its own right. A prospective client often prefers to negotiate an assignment with the individual who will actually carry it out. Social contact between the professional and the client is important as mutual understanding and trust are stimulated through such contact. The brief must tell the consultant what to do, by when and how much it will cost – or any cost or budgetary limitation. The brief must not, however stifle the consultant's creativity. A surprising number of organizations, including commercial businesses, initiate discussions with external consultants – sometimes authorizing initial work – without any real idea of what the work should cost to achieve. An invitation to tender (ITT) document is a formal way of requesting bids on a common basis.
