- Q:
Can we interview project consultants before the project begins?
- A:
We always provide an opportunity to interview the project consultants prior to starting the project. In these interviews clients can confirm the consultant’s fit with the client’s corporate culture, team leader, and other team members.
- Q:
Our staff does not have much experience. Can you lead the project?
- A:
One benefit of using external consultants is that you can quickly leverage specialized skills you may not have in your own resources. Our consultants are all well-qualified, with a wealth of experience, and will lead your projects based on their successful experiences as project managers on similar projects. They can also provide on-the-job training to your staff during the project.
- Q:
What if we cannot provide people to work on the project?
- A:
We provide support in accordance with your company’s project structure. For example, if you cannot supply enough team members, our consultants work as one of your own. If you cannot supply a team leader, our project managers will manage the project team. If you have no liaison between the headquarters overseas and the subsidiary, our project managers and team members can serve as liaisons and communicate in English. If you have no team members whatsoever, our consultants can plan, execute, and report on the respective projects.
- Q:
Is there a minimum project length? And how do you manage schedule changes during a project?
- A:
We have no limits on how short a project may be, but in the case of changes to the schedule during a project, we ask clients to give us notice of one-month or so if it appears that the schedule will be changed or extended.
- Q:
Can you provide deliverables in English?
- A:
We can create project deliverables for projects performed in Japan in Japanese and English, as specified in the contract. Overseas projects are generally conducted in English, though we can also perform them in Japanese.
- Q:
What items or materials do we need to prepare?
- A:
Our consultants can use their own laptops, but it is becoming more common for clients to prepare personal computers, login accounts, mail accounts, shared folders, and printer access so that these consultants can access internal resources. Consultants’ desks can be located either near client employees or in conference rooms.
- Q:
How do you manage security issues such as protecting personal information?
- A:
Prior to beginning a project, all our consultants sign our client’s NDAs. Consultants cannot take client documents outside the company without prior permission.
- Q:
I am not sure we can respond to external auditors on our own after a project is completed.
- A:
Many of our consultants have experience working on financial audits in the US or Japan. If necessary, we can provide appropriate advice to your management from the external auditors’ perspective.
- Q:
Can you provide services at regional and overseas subsidiaries?
- A:
We can travel to these locations as necessary.
- Q:
What is the invoicing and payment cycle?
- A:
Our standard invoicing cycle ends on the 20th of every month, with payment made by the end of the following month.