How a freelance engagement would unfold
Just as you would expect when engaging a professional consulting firm, as a freelancer my number one priority is to ensure that your investment is returned with skill, professionalism and added value that contributes to achieving your project deliverables, your business or transformation strategy and your commercial growth objectives.
Part of your team
As a freelancer, I'm not an 'employee' in a full-time, Mon-Fri capacity like a permanent or contract team member. But I'm here to serve your business and help achieve your goals as any consultant worth their salt would. That means getting to know your people, building solid relationships and being a support to your entire team.
Primarily remote
But available for important on-site, in-person meetings and workshops when the project or deliverable requires it. Sometimes, there's simply no replacement for getting into a room with a whiteboard or a good catch-up over a great cup of coffee.
Clear engagement framework
From Day 1, my engagement will operate within a delivery framework that includes a specific set of deliverables (customisable to your requirements):
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Engagement kick-off (Day 1 meeting)
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Regular check-ins (set to your preferred frequency)
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Weekly timesheets (track output vs cost)
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Weekly written status reports (progress against deliverables)
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PER (Post Engagement Review)
Time and cost transparency
A a Project Manager and Lead Business Analyst, I understand the frustration of tracking salaries or day rates and trying to determine if costs actually reflect true productive output. It's contentious to require that staff actually report on their time utilisation in detail. With me - it's a standard benefit of engagement. Weekly timesheets detailing all activity. Monthly invoices accompanied by a full time utilisation summary. Clarity on how your money is being spent.
Acknowledging the traditional owners of the lands throughout Australia on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Practicality in practice
My freelance model is based on a clear, but fully customisable engagement framework.
Fixed-cost project
Ideal for projects with a fixed budget that require clearly defined deliverables, hard deadlines and predictable upfront costs. My fixed-price model includes contingency for small changes in scope.
Terms: payments based on agreed milestones, 30 day payment terms.
Time & materials
Ideal for projects where the scope and deliverables are subject to change, or where you need the flexibility to engage resource on an 'as needed' basis. You will only be billed for the actual work performed.
Terms: billed monthly in arrears based on actual work completed during the month, 30 day payment terms.
Monthly retainer
A monthly retainer is the option closest to a 'traditional' contractor engagement. This would be a set number of hours per month that can be utilised at your discretion. Retainer agreements can be 'month to month' or setup for 3, 6 or 12 month periods.
Terms: billed monthly in arrears, 30 day payment terms.
Options to optimise costs
Just like a 'real' consulting firm, my priority is to offer flexibility and transparency on cost. I have adopted the same cost options as most service businesses, to enable you to get the resource you need, when and how you really need it.
1: Day 1 kick-off meeting
If I am being engaged to lead the delivery of a project, I recommend a day 1 kick-off meeting with key stakeholders. This is an essential forum for initial introductions, re-align on agreed deliverables and timelines and establish your preferred way of working. I am very happy to schedule this meeting and broker initial communications with key stakeholders subject to your preferences.
2: Weekly check-ins
I recommend a minimum of one weekly check-in meeting (Google / Teams). This time is typically used to discuss work and deliverables to date, clarify questions, resolve any issues / risks and ensure that you are fully satisfied with how the engagment is progressing.
3: Reports & timesheets
If the cost model is based on time & materials or a monthly retainer, I will provide a detailed weekly timesheet that itemises all time charged for that week (ie: conference calls, stakeholder workshops, time on written deliverables).
All engagements will include a monthly status report based on standard project reporting methodology (ie: project status, tasks achieved / pending, risks, issues, dependancies). This report can be fully customised.
4: Final deliverables & PER
Once the agreed deliverables have been completed, the engagement will conclude with a Post Engagement Review (PER). The purpose of this session is to take one final look at the deliverables and ensure that you are fully satisfied with all aspects of their content and quality. We can also discuss any final questions you may have or feedback that you would like to share.
Engagement commences
Through-out the engagement, I will operate within a framework that gives you full oversight on the status of agreed deliverables and associated costs.
This framework can be fully customised to your specific requirements.
1: Consultation call
This is an opportunity for me to learn more about your business and to discuss the specific project or initiative that you need resource for. It's a chance for us both to ask questions, understand how the engagement might unfold and most importantly - get an early sense of whether my experience is the right fit for your specific needs.
2: Clarify engagement parameters
If after the initial consultation you would like to proceed, next steps are to clearly define the parameters of the engagement. This starts by clarifying the particular capabilities you need support with then defining the full scope of work and all deliverables including:
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Engagement / communication deliverables (ie: facilitating workshops and stakeholders interviews or project governace)
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Written deliverables (ie: scope statements, requirements or user stories and process maps)
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Expected deadlines or start and end dates
3: Select the right cost model
Once the engagement parameters are clear, it becomes easier to select the right cost model (fixed-cost / time & materials / retainer). You may already have a specific cost requirement driven by budgets. I am also happy to provide a recommendation that ensures maximum cost efficiency.
4: Final proposal (SOW)
The final proposal will package the discussed engagement parameters and agreed deliverables into a clear statement of work. This will typically include:
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Engagement deliverables
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Written deliverables
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Assumptions and constraints
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Out of scope items
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Deadlines / start and end dates
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Fees and terms (ie: agreed fixed cost or agreed hours for monthly retainer)