When your staff has business knowledge that is needed elsewhere for another project use consultants to perform the work that the team is presently doing until they can return.

For projects with a defined start and end date leverage consultants with a defined start and end date too. Don't overspend on consultants just use them when and for only as long as is necessary.

Why incur the cost of hire and the cost of termination when you know now that you won't need the resources at some future date. Ask yourself does my business really need to employ the required resources?

Case Study 2: Acme Bank planned to install a new ERP system. All of the existing IT staff will be required perform the business analysis, create the specifications and customize the new system to meet the conversion deadline. The team can't support the existing legacy systems and at the same time do all the work required to get the new ERP installed.

Acme Bank outsourced the support and maintenance of the existing systems for a period of eighteen months. The consulting company provided 24x7 support sun-setting all the legacy systems as the new EPR came online.