[altay]

No, we're constantly evaluating people during and after each project. Thankfully we've only had to drop someone in one situation, but we're not afraid to do that if necessary to keep the quality high.

Also thankfully, the people we rep tend to bring their A-game to projects because they understand that it's not just their reputation on the line... they're also representing 10x and all of the other consultants that 10x represents.

[einrealist]

Thanks. I am biased, because I work as a consultant. I always bring my A-game to my clients, too. But if I ask for 250/hr, my client's procurement will just laugh and close the door. Well, there were some exceptions, when clients were really in need and I was the only person applicable to solve their situation. But that's rarely the case in longer assignments. Usually, those high rates are demanded by specialists, who are hired for 1-2 weeks of a critical product integration phase.

In my experience, there is no guarantee that an A-grade technician will perform well in any environment. There are so many (not to say endless) factors, which makes it very difficult to value the performance objectively. So unless you have a very good monitoring in place to monitor your client's satisfaction and be very transparent about it to all clients, I tend to claim that you profit from the "Chivas Regal Effect". And I doubt, that your track record of successful time & material engagements really exceeds those of other firms (e.g. Thoughtworks).

From another perspective, you do a great job. Because it is time for many companies to value their staff differently. There are so many IT departments which have not changed much since 20 years.