Independent Project Manager Consultant or Contractor?
Michelle StronachProject Management and IT Governance Consultant| M.L. Stronach Project Consulting, Inc.Pickering, Ontario, Canada
All self employed or those considering going independent....which do you consider your self ... A consultant or contractor and why? Saving Changes...
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Wai Mun KooPMO Director| Intergraph PP&MSingapore, Singapore
Hi Michelle,
The way I interpret it is, 'Consultant' is a role that I play while 'Contractor' is the way that the customer engages me for my services. Saving Changes...
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
I would say that a consultant comes in and provides advice and expertise, whereas a contractor is an integral part of the team who just happens to not be on a permanent contract.
But I think different companies use different terminology, so it doesn't really matter what you call yourself as long as you adequately define your role. Saving Changes...
Mark Price PerryBusiness Driven PMO Evangelist| BOT InternationalOrlando, Fl, United States
In the context of project management consulting and contract work, I tend to view a project management consultant as someone who is performing a client engagement with a specific terms of reference and I view a project management contractor as someone who has been contracted to work typically on a day rate basis and, in essence, as a member of the team. A self employed individual might very well do and be one or the other or both. Saving Changes...
Bernard GorePortfolio, Programme & Project Professional| NZ PoliceWellington, New Zealand
While I'd agree with the formal definitons provided by others here, in reality these are too often blurred and used imprecisely, and if anything this is happening more, so I'd say simply don't worry about it - you are a project professional, develop a value statement of what services you deliver. It would be unlikely for most of us that these fit exactly in one box or the other, so avoid pigeon-holing yourself. Saving Changes...
