That's a constant. As an external consultant, do remember you have the power to play the expert. "Well that's how other Top50 companies I've worked with have

That's a constant. As an external consultant, do remember you have the power to play the expert. "Well that's how other Top50 companies I've worked with have done it" isn't the worst card to play. Usually though, it requires hitching your wagon to whatever VP brought you in, and trying not to burn them with blowback. Although honestly, most of the time I think it was "No" on the basis of inertia / resistance to change, more than actual disagreement. So technical arguments can win the day there (with other engineers).