There are not many things in life that are worse than being forced to listen to Rimberger Zuzupimple’s 1st vuvuzela Concerto in B-flat at full 127 decibels without earplugs, but one thing that is definitely worse is when IT companies make a pigs ear of their retainer engagements and turn those great opportunities into temporary manual labour jobs.

Yes, when you listen to vuvuzela music, it sure hurts your ears like hell, and you may even go as deaf as a cannon more quickly than you could say Jemima Puddle Duck, but when your company’s retainer contracts are set up incorrectly, you may equally go deaf by repeatedly yelling at yourself…

“You see, you raving bloody lunatic! What have you done!”

And while I can’t offer any remedy against eardrum-cracking vuvuzela music, in this month’s issue of Tomicide Solutions we discover some profit-leaking mistakes many IT companies make about their retainer services.

Many IT companies set up their retainer contracts incorrectly, often murdering their bottom lines in the process by positioning themselves as temporary day labourers and fungible vendors, as opposed to respected, recognised and in-demand industrial authorities.

There are probably more causes for this error, but over the years I’ve identified the following 10…