A high-stakes decision with no objective criteria
Without a framework, every decision depends on who’s in the room. A consultant had been engaged for years under an auto-renewing agreement with no defined end date. The scope described activities, not outcomes. There were no insurance requirements, no data security protocols, no performance metrics, and no board oversight mechanisms. For a role with direct access to financial systems and sensitive organizational data, the contract formalized the relationship — but protected almost nothing.
The right provisions depend on the exposure.
This isn’t contract law — it’s pattern recognition. A framework was developed to evaluate consultant agreements against what the engagement actually involves: the scope of system access, the sensitivity of the data, and the level of organizational exposure. Spanning 25+ provisions across six categories — from insurance and data security to termination and legal compliance — each combination of factors points to a clear set of required and recommended provisions. Complex situation, simple decision tool. The gap between what was in place and what the exposure warranted became immediately visible.
A repeatable standard for every decision that follows.
The organization now has a repeatable standard for evaluating every consulting situation — not just the one in question. Every future situation is evaluated against the same 25+ provision framework, with required and recommended items clearly mapped by tier. Gaps are identified and prioritized. There’s no longer a need to rely on assumptions or the judgment of whoever is available when a new situation arises. The framework does the thinking — consistently, every time.
karinne@gocrowconsulting.com
CROW CONSULTING