Interim Manager or a Consultant?

What Kind of Executive Expertise Best Fits Your Needs? Consultant or Interim Manager?


This test was the winner of Online Recruitment Magazine's 2006 Innovative Online Marketing Award.

In recent years the types of managerial services that were once all lumped under the concept of "consultancy" have become highly differentiated, making it more difficult for companies to match their businesses' needs with the appropriate solution. This short test addresses this problem, so that you can quickly and objectively identify the type of solution that will best fit your needs.


  1. Does the person need to be physically present at your operations and work a fixed number of hours per week?
    Full time and then some!
    Most to nearly all of the time
    Some of the time
    A few visits may be all that’s necessary
    Not really all that necessary

  2. Do you need all or most of the person’s time, or do you just need a bit of occasional help?
    Full time
    Part time
    Occasional

  3. Does the work require a manager or leader of people, or is it primarily concerned with independent contribution?
    This person will primarily be working independently
    Team leadership and people management skills would be useful
    Team leadership and management skills are highly valuable
    The work requires an outstanding team leader or manager of people

  4. Will employees report to the person?
    Yes, and those managers have direct reports as well
    Yes, a few
    Maybe
    Probably not
    Definitely not

  5. If your requirement is for a "project", do you envision the project team being staffed primarily with external or internal resources?
    We want an external team of experts working on it in a dedicated fashion
    We want several external experts, guided and managed by an internal team of contacts
    Our project team will be staffed by both internal and external resources, but mainly internal: we just want to "beef up" the team with several extra experts
    We need to hire, for the duration of the project only, a project manager or program manager to coordinate all the various resources applied to the project
    Not applicable

  6. Is the person to fill in for an executive - for example, someone who is out on extended leave, has left the company, or whose role is proving difficult to fill with a permanent hire?
    Yes
    No

  7. Is there a chance, if you are delighted with the person’s work, that you would offer the person permanent employment with your company?
    Yes, a large chance
    Yes, a small chance
    Unlikely
    No chance

  8. Is the situation an emergency?
    Yes, it’s a crisis!
    We have a sense of urgency
    Not particularly

  9. In terms of company culture, employee opinion or internal power structures, is your company's situation politically sensitive?
    Absolutely, we are at a crossroads as to our strategy and mission, and we lack consensus
    Absolutely, there are difficult tactical decisions and actions to be implemented which will affect a lot of people
    To a moderate degree the issues are politically sensitive
    No, the situation is not politically sensitive

  10. Is this role primarily concerned with short-term risks and opportunities, or are the risks and opportunities longer-term?
    Primarily to address short-run issues
    Mostly to address short-run issues, but there are some long-term aspects
    Mostly to address long-run issues, but there are some short-term aspects
    Primarily to address long-run issues

  11. Is the person required for routine operations and issues which are normally within your organisation's capabilities? Or are they required because there is some unique situation (for example, integrating an acquisition) for which management lacks either time or expertise?
    They’re needed strictly to manage routine operations
    They’re needed mostly to manage routine operations
    While they will be assisting in some routine operations, they are mostly needed for a unique situation
    They’re needed strictly to address a unique situation
    Not Applicable

  12. Is the role primarily concerned with research, analysis, preparation of plans, proposals and specifications, which will in turn be acted upon by management, or is the work primarily concerned with execution?
    All research, analysis, plans, proposals and specifications
    Mostly research, analysis, plans, proposals and specifications
    Some research, analysis etc., but mostly execution
    We need someone to come in and take on operating duties

  13. What do you need more of, quality advice and recommendations, or effective implementation?
    Primarily advice and recommendations
    Mostly advice and recommendations, but some implementation
    Mostly implementation, but some advice and recommendations
    Primarily implementation

  14. Does the position require someone with extensive direct managerial experience?
    Absolutely
    Highly desirable
    Not particularly
    No, advisory or consultancy experience is suitable

  15. Does the position require someone who has an exceptionally strong conceptual / academic understanding of business, with tremendous grasp of the appropriate theory?
    Absolutely
    Highly useful
    Not particularly
    No, just someone who knows what they’re doing and is exceptional about getting it done

  16. Assuming the person holds the right base-line educational qualifications to do the job, how important are additional educational credentials -- such as an MBA or professional certifications -- relative to having relevant on-the-job experience?
    Stellar educational credentials are absolutely essential to this role
    They should have both, but educational pedigree is very important
    Educational pedigree is important, but not as important as directly relevant experience
    If they’ve seen and dealt successfully with our problem before their educational background is irrelevant

  17. To what degree is it desirable that the individual has held a board level appointment in a large organisation?
    Essential
    Highly desirable
    Desirable
    Not particularly important

  18. Is there a specific methodology (such as Six Sigma, TQM, Balanced Scorecard, etc.) you’ve chosen to accomplish your objectives or do you need help in choosing an approach?
    Yes, we’ve researched methodologies and have chosen one (or several)
    We need help evaluating what methodology might work best for us
    The tasks are very straightforward, but familiarity with accepted methodologies is a plus
    Methodologies add gloss but no real insights, and one is not likely to be better than another; give me someone who’s done it successfully no matter what their method

  19. Does this person need to be somewhat of a guru in their area of specialty, bringing lots of deep knowledge to bear on your issue?
    Yes, that's exactly what we need.
    Not exactly. We want a guru-type, but what we want is original, creative, out-of-the-box thinking, not a traditional subject-matter expert. We want brilliance not tied down with conventional notions of how it's supposed to be done.
    It wouldn't hurt to have it, but we don't require guru-level expertise. We just need someone who knows what they're doing and can get it done.
    That's not the right person. We are principally concerned with the ability to implement and execute. We don't have the managerial time or interest in digesting a guru's deep perspective. We just need to get it done - on schedule.

  20. Which pricing structure best fits how you expect to pay for this person?
    Fixed project fee
    Day rate

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