| We recently asked a focus group facility for a daily | | | | Assuming that a supplier is tracking recruiter |
| call disposition report, including the daily recruiting | | | | performance and recruiting progress (which they |
| hours used. They said they could provide this report | | | | should be), a fee for providing a daily snapshot of a |
| for an additional $500. | | | | projects' progress is, in our opinion, unjustified. Here's |
| When we asked about the additional fee, they | | | | why: |
| replied: "It's for additional staff hours that are not | | | | We know first-hand that providing progress reports |
| typically required of qualitative projects." | | | | to clients doesn't require $500 worth of effort. |
| Does that mean that this supplier does not typically | | | | Effective recruiting shops prepare these reports daily |
| track progress? Or does it mean that progress is | | | | to monitor the overall health and progress of the |
| typically tracked, but that providing clients with | | | | project. Doing so is essential to forecasting project |
| progress reports is uncommon? | | | | completion and costs, among other critical things. So |
| Neither scenario is good for qualitative market | | | | why would providing clients with a summary of this |
| research buyers. Here's why: | | | | critical information involve a fee? |
| Not tracking recruiting progress | | | | But if the supplier doesn't track this information, |
| If a respondent recruitment firm doesn't track | | | | that's another story. Is it possible that the supplier |
| recruiter progress (the number of calls made, the | | | | doesn't want to track all of this information? Would a |
| result of each call and the number of hours used, for | | | | $500 fee persuade you to reconsider your request? |
| example) how do they know which recruiters are | | | | Or maybe the supplier doesn't want shrewd clients |
| performing and which are not? Your scarce research | | | | questioning the number of hours that have been |
| dollars could be financing dead weight recruiters. | | | | used, or the number of contacts that have (or have |
| Tracking recruiting progress and recruiter | | | | not) been made. Since suppliers don't like to be |
| performance, among other things, helps suppliers | | | | challenged about productivity and budgets, maybe a |
| establish their cost of doing business. And that | | | | $500 fee would convince you to forget about |
| translates into the fees you pay for recruiting and | | | | needing detailed progress updates. |
| other services. If recruiting prices are not based on | | | | The bottom line |
| the cost of doing business together with a projects' | | | | Is a fee for reporting this information reasonable and |
| degree of difficulty, what prevents you from | | | | fair? We think not. As a client, you deserve these |
| overpaying? | | | | reports. You deserve to know how your money is |
| What's more, if you're asked to provide additional | | | | being spent. What's more, you need these reports to |
| money as the project unfolds, how does the supplier | | | | make sure your projects are on track. And to take |
| know they need more money? On what is the | | | | appropriate measures if they're not. And you deserve |
| decision based? If they don't know how much of the | | | | to know free of charge. |
| original budget has been used, how do they know | | | | A detailed accounting of recruiting progress and costs |
| how much of the original budget remains? Costs are | | | | is something that we encourage all researchers to |
| often unpredictable when recruiting performance is | | | | request and review. So check with your suppliers |
| not tracked and monitored. | | | | before starting your project to see if they will report |
| Reporting progress for a fee | | | | this information. And, if so, if there's a fee. |