It would be of interest to know the difference between the two words, developer and consultant before we get into the nitty-gritty world of information technology and the jargon used by those in that industry. This industry uses some very mind-boggling words to define certain aspects of its working and knowing all of them could be a challenge in itself hence we will leave that aside for the moment.
Consultants
A consultant as we know is one to whom others would come to consult on various things depending on his or her area of expertise. Invariably a professional fee would be paid in exchange for the knowledge imparted by the advice given to the advice taker.
Consulting is also a step or two high on the ladder of knowledge because without sufficient expertise providing advice would be a futile exercise and could cause untold suffering for the advice taker if the provided advice is substandard. In any industry, the wrong advice could land the consultant on the wrong side of the law. It is an offence to propagate wrong advice to laymen and mislead them, on second thoughts you would need to be a politician if you are to get away from such practices. Politicians are not consultants hence going to seek advice from them would be at your own peril.
Consultants need to have certain inherent attributes before they would present themselves as consultants and high up on that list would be the right qualifications and the acquired experience. Once they have a good mix of both they could be recognized as consultants and would generally act proactively dispensing advice on subjects where their clientele would have little knowledge of.
Developers
Developers, on the other hand, would take instructions and follow them and would always act reactively as per the requirements at hand. They would be constrained by the parameters that are set for them and would not be permitted to go beyond and would be required to complete tasks within a stipulated time frame.
It is also within the purview of developers to identify the requirements, seek the advice of other professionals and then create what is needed. It is more of following what is told to be done rather than doing what the developer would think is the best and would need to meet the standards set and the issues at hand. Developers have to be specific and cannot think out of the box but would put others thoughts into perspective.
There are no constraints in developers elevating themselves onto the higher platform of being a consultant after all they are experts in their own line of work and are better placed to provide firsthand advice as they are experienced and qualified. There are many developers with expertise in various industries who double up as consultants and have been doing a great job especially with their expertise which has come from learning on the job.
Developer cum consultant in the information technology industry
The information technology industry bifurcates into two distinct branches, the Product and Service lines which basically are two sides of the same coin. Once you take up software developing it is a case of identifying the inherent needs of a business and bringing out the right technological support to sustain that business. If you as a developer is called to provide the best information technology advice for any particular business you become a consultant inadvertently.
Hence taking up the mantle as an information technology consultant automatically arises when you plan, devise, develop and execute a software program which would be tailor made for that business. The issue of differentiating the two, that is developer and consultant does not arise here due to the overlapping of responsibilities between the two. The clients would be satisfied with what they are being offered and if it is a turnkey solution they would be happy to grasp it with both hands.
Advice on the best available custom-built software systems
A consultant developer could also help a business to procure one of the best information technology software available like the Svitla Systems to suit their operations and aspirations. These systems could be tailor-made to fit any business big or small like a glove into a hand and provide the most perfect of information solutions.
The Svitla Systems have been painstakingly developed and is one of the best around and in the hands of the right developer consultant, users and customers could avail themselves of the best technology to operate their business efficiently. There is no anomaly between a developer and consultant especially in the information technology industry hence combining both could bring together knowledge, experience and innovation to the highest levels.
This could be enhanced with the right software employed and one that would stand out among others and which has taken the information industry by storm is the innovative, cutting edge technologically advanced Svitla Systems.
Combining software development and consulting together would give you a better perspective of what the client would need and help them in designing the perfect IT support to further their business.This is the advantage you would have and hence looking to be a master of both would elevate you to dizzying heights. The world of information technology is proliferating at a fast pace hence having both your hands in the pudding would do you good.
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Conclusion
- Developing and consulting are two sides of the same coin
- It would help you and your client immensely without having to look elsewhere for further advice
- Having both hands in the pudding will do you a world of good financially
- The industry needs experts in both areas of its operations, in the Product and Service lines
- It would be attractive financially to your client too, as it would one person rather than two
- The information technology industry needs jacks of all trades because it is proliferating to dizzying heights
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FAQ
A developer follows instructions to create solutions, while a consultant offers expert advice and guidance based on their knowledge and experience.
Yes, many developers can transition into consultants by leveraging their expertise to provide advice and solutions to businesses.
A consultant needs to have the right qualifications and significant experience in their field to provide valuable and reliable advice.
While developers typically follow set parameters, they also assess requirements and can provide input or advice based on their technical knowledge.
