Contract going sour

[suityou01]

Did anyone ever get this? In a gig and the department has one or two systems that are ailing. I have voiced my opinions quietly and been asked to report in writing as to what the issues as I see them are. Before I could finish this report, I have been moved from project to project and have just not been given the time to consolidate my thoughts.

Yesterday they held a brain storming meeting, to which I voiced my concern that it was a little premature as I hadn't finished my report. In the meeting I got a strong sense of "don't listen to the contractor", and every time I tried to chip in I was talked over.

These guys have got themselves in quite a pickle here, and I was told when I started that my opinions were wanted as I was a subject matter expert. Say one thing and do another eh?

The last contractor to go on holiday got canned, as she has spotted irregularities as well and tried to point them out. I am on paternity leave in about 3 weeks all things being equal.

I'm not sure what I am asking here, but I seem to spot a pattern in my contracts.

1)hired as subject matter expert.
2)usurped by worried permies.
3)back on the bench.

I feel slightly aggrieved here as I even asked them, if they just wanted a code monkey I was happy to be that guy and tow the party line, less work on my part after all, but I was told to carry on voicing my opinions.

I guess next time I am asked for my opinions in a gig I shall just not have any, which seems like I am exposing myself as not delivering what they asked for.

[Mich the Tester]

Stop being such a bloody expert. Slow down to permie-pace.

[Drewster]

Did anyone ever get this?.......

Answer - Yes

Comment

"Notice the minute hand, as it passes the number twelve. This means you have just earned another hour's money. You can earn an hour's money being stressed out, or by being relaxed. It's still the same amount of money."

suityou01, 15/04/2009

I think that sums it up.........

[Zippy]

Finish your report, mail it to whoever asked for it, then get on with being a code monkey secure in the knowledge that your arse is covered.

Hope things pick up soon

[EternalOptimist]

Funny thing this, my missus does it all the time. Just because someone asks for your opinion, it doesnt really mean they want your opinion.
Often they want you to say what they want to hear.

Next meeting, go in and tell them that their bum doesnt look to big in this at all

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Funny thing this, my missus does it all the time. Just because someone asks for your opinion, it doesnt really mean they want your opinion.
Often they want you to say what they want to hear.

Next meeting, go in and tell them that their bum doesnt look to big in this at all

Exactly. Mrs PSB had a go at me for not expressing an opinion, but she only asks me when she has already made her mind up so I don't bother any more. This contract (my current one) is the same - previous person gave the only logical solution to their issues bUt it wasn't the answer they wanted.

[EternalOptimist]

Exactly. Mrs PSB had a go at me for not expressing an opinion, but she only asks me when she has already made her mind up so I don't bother any more. This contract is the same - previous person gave the only logical solution to their issues bUt it wasn't the answer they wanted.

Sort of related subject. In my current incarnation I have the infrastructure guy coming to me with a problem saying, 'can you make this work'
So I look at the mess and try to get it working, all the while asking questions and digging deeper.
Then, when you get down to the nitty gritty, you find a simple solution to the original problem. He doesnt like that. He wants me to get his crummy solution working, rather than solve the original problem.
Three times it has happened

The fouth, and last time, he asked me how I could get some AD detail into an ACCESS database, so I asked him why and what was he trying to achieve, he said 'oh it's ok, leave it with me'

[Drewster]

Sort of related subject.

Its a recurring issue - "they" are always just expecting you to provide "an easy answer".
"they" never (or very rarely) actually want you to examine what the real issue is and provide a proper solution "they" just want a "silver bullet".....

Its the hoary old cliche "they can't afford/don't have time to do it properly...."

[suityou01]

Sort of related subject. In my current incarnation I have the infrastructure guy coming to me with a problem saying, 'can you make this work'
So I look at the mess and try to get it working, all the while asking questions and digging deeper.
Then, when you get down to the nitty gritty, you find a simple solution to the original problem. He doesnt like that. He wants me to get his crummy solution working, rather than solve the original problem.
Three times it has happened

The fouth, and last time, he asked me how I could get some AD detail into an ACCESS database, so I asked him why and what was he trying to achieve, he said 'oh it's ok, leave it with me'

These minnows are dangerous. Using Access at all in my eyes is an admission of mediocrity. This guy is rubbish, and you show him up, irgo you are a threat to him. Same thing here.

Mich says slow down to their pace, but sometimes the gap between your abilities and theirs is so vast that it is just not feasible to do so.

[thelace]

You're a Contractor.

You should hold an emotional barrier between you and clientco.

Turn up, do what they ask you to do, sign off, invoice.

I'm a safety specialist. I've had to draw up procedures for gritting the car park, policies for cycling on site, whatever the client has asked me to do.

Stop bitching about it or go permie!