Re: Vendor conflict of interest - Consultants, etc.

I'm a consultant, and I don't sell any software or hardware, just my
services. But I also tell any vendors that I may recommend that I *won't*
take a finders fee or a kickback or anything else. If I did, my clients
wouldn't be able to trust my judgement. Along those lines, I think that a
consultant that has the opportunity to recommend their own product can't
be totally trusted. Not because they are scamming, but because they
probably think their product is the best - that's why they work for that
company.

I feel you have to have an arm's length between the
consultant/recommender/evaluator and the vendor.

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 09:32:35 -0500, Mike.Crump@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx said:
> I've been tossing this 'issue' around for a while but I wonder if other
> people had thoughts with regards to dealing with consultants that based
> upon a given project and a their product/services suite may have a
> conflict
> of interest.  An example that I can think of is hiring a company to do a
> study on data center consolidation (that would include outsourcing as an
> option) and involving a consultant whose company also happens to sell
> outsourcing contracts.
> 
> I know from the discussions on the various midrange lists that there are
> a
> number of 'vendors' out there that lend advice that as far as I'm
> concerned
> is greatly appreciated and I think most do a standout job of disclaiming
> their potential 'conflict'.  So, the question isn't directed towards them
> and not the form of advice but those in the form of paid work like I
> mentioned previously.
> 
> Am I the only one that thinks this is wrong and fraught with potential
> issues?  All conflicts of interest discussions lately don't seem to look
> at
> this side of the issue but I have large concerns.  Or is this just
> another
> way that we have to do business and watch the results closely?
> 
> 
> Michael Crump
> Manager, Computing Services
> Saint-Gobain Containers
> 1509 S. Macedonia Ave.
> Muncie, IN  47302
> (765)741-7696
> (765)741-7012 f
> (800)428-8642
> 
> "I shall often go wrong through defect of judgement.  When right, I shall
> often be thought wrong by those whose positions will not command a view
> of
> the whole ground.  I ask your indulgence for my own errors, which will
> never be intentional, and your support against the errors of others, who
> may condemn what they would not if seen in all its parts."  Thomas
> Jefferson
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
  
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