Steve Portigal: Consultants vs In-house Specialists

In-house specialists have the advantage of knowing the people, their limitations, strengths, preferences, and communication styles within the organization. They do not have to constantly figure out these aspects which consultants do because they lack the lay of the land. As consultants, there is an opportunity to speak truth to power, be less biased, and have fewer constraints regarding risks since their compensation is not tied to the product's success. In contrast, in-house specialists' success is interconnected with the organization's success. Consultants and in-house specialists can form a beneficial partnership by combining the long-term insights of in-house specialists with the fresh perspectives brought by consultants.