SpecialiZm ‑ Expert Resource Division

Expertise on Demand

SpecialiZm, the expert resource division of Z/Yen, provides experts for management roles – typically for assignments of between 6 and 18 months. Organisations need temporary experts more frequently because:

Organisations have downsized considerably and are often short of specific skills;
Organisations are seeking to reduce fixed costs;
New technology, globalisation and competitive forces have increased the pace of change, thus companies need greater operational flexibility;
Recruiting permanent staff is often not a short-term option.

Z/Yen is a risk/reward management firm that works to enhance performance by helping organisations make better choices.We aim to reduce risk, enhance reward and manage volatility. To meet these goals, appropriate “expertise on demand” is crucial. SpecialiZm provides experts who are:

Carefully selected to ensure quality;
‘Fit for purpose’ – our expertise is matching organisations with the right experts;
Able to start within a tight timeframe;
Where possible, remunerated based on performance against quantifiable objectives;
Variable costs, able to leave when the project has completed or demands have changed.

We provide experts in operations, sales and marketing, finance, information technology and logistics. Our experts can be senior project managers working on acquisitions, logistics, new product launches or training. Our experts can work on-the-ground or up to board level. We frequently provide managing directors, finance directors or marketing directors. Our experience, backed by research, shows that the main uses for experts are:

Function		Organisation Situation
Finance & Accounting	25%	Key Person Temporary Placement	30%
General Management (e.g., MD)	15%	Company Turnaround	15%
Sales & Marketing	15%	Mergers & Acquisitions	10%
Information Technology	10%	Rapid Growth	10%
Human Resources	10%	Change Management	10%
Manufacturing & Production	10%	Disposal Management	10%
Other	15%	Other	15%

We have a community of several hundred experts with wide ranging experience. We go to great lengths to keep up-to-date with the knowledge and skill sets of our experts. SpecialiZm begins assignments with a detailed brief that establishes a clear understanding of the client’s organisation and requirements. We normally introduce clients to up to three suitably experienced and well-briefed experts within seven days (Our pledge). We define, where possible, quantifiable objectives. Our experts are remunerated on a risk/reward basis (Pledge to our experts). We assess, on a monthly or quarterly basis, the progress of each assignment and pay our expert a performance fee accordingly. Success fees are unusual in this type of contract but in our experience ensure the necessary motivation for project success.

When we say “expertise on demand”, we mean that we can genuinely supply decades of experience within days. Our experts offer great value during these times of change. We would welcome a discussion on how we might help your organisation.