By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
SmartData Collective
  • Analytics
    AnalyticsShow More
    data analytics in sports industry
    Here’s How Data Analytics In Sports Is Changing The Game
    6 Min Read
    data analytics on nursing career
    Advances in Data Analytics Are Rapidly Transforming Nursing
    8 Min Read
    data analytics reveals the benefits of MBA
    Data Analytics Technology Proves Benefits of an MBA
    9 Min Read
    data-driven image seo
    Data Analytics Helps Marketers Substantially Boost Image SEO
    8 Min Read
    construction analytics
    5 Benefits of Analytics to Manage Commercial Construction
    5 Min Read
  • Big Data
  • BI
  • Exclusive
  • IT
  • Marketing
  • Software
Search
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Is Consulting Worth the Money?
Share
Notification Show More
Latest News
big data mac performance
Data-Driven Tips to Optimize the Speed of Macs
News
3 Ways AI Has Helped Marketers and Creative Professionals Streamline Workflows
3 Ways AI Has Helped Marketers and Creative Professionals Streamline Workflows
Artificial Intelligence
data analytics in sports industry
Here’s How Data Analytics In Sports Is Changing The Game
Big Data
data analytics on nursing career
Advances in Data Analytics Are Rapidly Transforming Nursing
Analytics
data analytics reveals the benefits of MBA
Data Analytics Technology Proves Benefits of an MBA
Analytics
Aa
SmartData Collective
Aa
Search
  • About
  • Help
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
SmartData Collective > Big Data > Data Warehousing > Is Consulting Worth the Money?
Data Warehousing

Is Consulting Worth the Money?

paulbarsch
Last updated: 2011/05/17 at 4:22 PM
paulbarsch
4 Min Read
SHARE

For data warehouse implementations, many IT buyers offer their vendor a baseline budget and ask for the most hardware and software they can muster –sans the consulting. Perhaps the IT buyer has a mindset that either they can “do it themselves” a la home improvement stores, or that services really aren’t a necessary component of a data warehouse purchase. Let me relate a personal story to illustrate the fallacy of this approach.

For data warehouse implementations, many IT buyers offer their vendor a baseline budget and ask for the most hardware and software they can muster –sans the consulting. Perhaps the IT buyer has a mindset that either they can “do it themselves” a la home improvement stores, or that services really aren’t a necessary component of a data warehouse purchase. Let me relate a personal story to illustrate the fallacy of this approach.

A month ago, my watch band snapped and I had a choice to either replace or repair it. Walking into a jewelry store, the manager behind the counter mentioned that $40 bands were available for replacement, or he could fix it for $12. Naturally, I took the lesser amount and waited for my watch repair.

More Read

cloud based supply chain management

Cloud-Based Supply Chain Risk Management Is Key To A Company’s Future

Data Scalability Raises Considerable Risk Management Concerns
How Big Data Is Shaking Up the Manufacturing Supply Chain
Private Clouds Are Here to Stay—Especially for Data Warehousing
The Softer Side of Risk Management Means Fewer Analytics

Editor’s note: Paul Barsch is an employee of Teradata, a sponsor of The Smart Data Collective.

In no more than three minutes, the manager had my watchband repaired. “That’ll be $12 please,” he said. My initial reaction was that I was an easy “mark” in a very simple scheme of charging too much for too little; after all $12 for three minutes sounded pretty ridiculous.  That is, until realized that I didn’t have the knowledge, tools, or parts to repair my watchband.  To repair the watch correctly and save $28, I had to rely on the expertise and knowledge of a jeweler.

This personal story reminds me of a video clip on artist Paula Scher.  In the video, Ms. Scher discusses how she came to design the Citi logo when Citi and Travelers merged in 1999. Within minutes, Ms. Scher quickly sketched out the new logo (on a napkin) and completed the project in record time. “It took me a few seconds to draw it (the new logo), but it took me 34 years to learn how to draw it in seconds,” she says. 

Beauty, simplicity, and the exact results the client wanted –all in minutes. And I’m guessing the price tag for logo design wasn’t $12. Clients ask Ms. Scher; ‘How can a logo be designed in a second?’ to which she responds, “Every experience, every movie, every thing of my life that’s in my head (goes into the process).”

A data warehouse implementation can easily be one of the more critical IT projects for any company. And to be clear, there are undoubtedly some organizations that really have “do it yourself” capabilities, but those cases are rare.

Warren Buffett once wisely said, “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.” So then, that “unnecessary” data warehouse consulting can provide structure; design and execution know-how to get a data warehousing project completed on-time and on-budget. It’s the experience and knowledge of a consultant that can ultimately help reduce waste, provide less rework and potentially bring business results to an organization much faster than a do-it-yourself approach. 

TAGGED: risk management, services
paulbarsch May 17, 2011
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn
Share

Follow us on Facebook

Latest News

big data mac performance
Data-Driven Tips to Optimize the Speed of Macs
News
3 Ways AI Has Helped Marketers and Creative Professionals Streamline Workflows
3 Ways AI Has Helped Marketers and Creative Professionals Streamline Workflows
Artificial Intelligence
data analytics in sports industry
Here’s How Data Analytics In Sports Is Changing The Game
Big Data
data analytics on nursing career
Advances in Data Analytics Are Rapidly Transforming Nursing
Analytics

Stay Connected

1.2k Followers Like
33.7k Followers Follow
222 Followers Pin

You Might also Like

cloud based supply chain management
Cloud Computing

Cloud-Based Supply Chain Risk Management Is Key To A Company’s Future

7 Min Read
data scalability
AnalyticsBest PracticesBig DataData ManagementData QualityExclusiveRisk Management

Data Scalability Raises Considerable Risk Management Concerns

6 Min Read
supply chain and big data
Big DataRisk ManagementWorkforce Data

How Big Data Is Shaking Up the Manufacturing Supply Chain

9 Min Read

Private Clouds Are Here to Stay—Especially for Data Warehousing

6 Min Read

SmartData Collective is one of the largest & trusted community covering technical content about Big Data, BI, Cloud, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IoT & more.

ai is improving the safety of cars
From Bolts to Bots: How AI Is Fortifying the Automotive Industry
Artificial Intelligence
giveaway chatbots
How To Get An Award Winning Giveaway Bot
Big Data Chatbots Exclusive

Quick Link

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Follow US

© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Go to mobile version
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?