project; break it up into parts. “You say, ‘For this much money we
expect to at least get a machine in the door,’” Harris suggests. “‘For
this much money we expect to get the following diskettes for the
following programs.’ ‘For this much money perhaps we’ll talk about
customizing software.‘” If a consultant flubs an early part of the
work or specifies the wrong programs or equipment, then you can more
easily send him packing. “But,” you worry, “can a rival consultant
pick up the pieces?” Well, you simply insist that the original
consultant do his work in as standardized a way as possible. See if he
can use a program like dBASE II or III—software with which thousands
of other consultants are familiar.