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You're a consultant

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    You're a consultant

    you know technically what the client is choosing to do shall inherently lead to problems later in the project causing uproar, frustration and cost.

    You also know from experience what to do. How do you help the client to see the way? This is the core of consultancy - contractors need not apply.

    Typically I'm giving my clients a choice rather than instruction. But when there's many stakeholders whose understanding is challenged....
    "Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience". Mark Twain

    #2
    You can't save them all. You need to learn when to give up on them.
    While you're waiting, read the free novel we sent you. It's a Spanish story about a guy named 'Manual.'

    Comment


      #3
      And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by scooterscot View Post
        you know technically what the client is choosing to do shall inherently lead to problems later in the project causing uproar, frustration and cost.

        You also know from experience what to do. How do you help the client to see the way? This is the core of consultancy - contractors need not apply.

        Typically I'm giving my clients a choice rather than instruction. But when there's many stakeholders whose understanding is challenged....
        Bung it on the risk and issue log and position yourself to win the business sorting out the inevitable mess.

        A client of mine is implementing a system in a way which is certainly illegal, without consulting the internal stakeholders who would put a stop to it. In these circumstances I am persistent, but ultimately they are accountable for their decisions. If they were going to kill people, I would do something more, but this one isn't that bad.
        The material prosperity of a nation is not an abiding possession; the deeds of its people are.

        George Frederic Watts

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postman's_Park

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by scooterscot View Post
          you know technically what the client is choosing to do shall inherently lead to problems later in the project causing uproar, frustration and cost.

          You also know from experience what to do. How do you help the client to see the way? This is the core of consultancy - contractors need not apply.

          Typically I'm giving my clients a choice rather than instruction. But when there's many stakeholders whose understanding is challenged....
          I'm picking up the pieces from a upstart contractor who thought he knew better than the client and ignored their requirements - not giving them a choice, just 'best practice' ("I learned eet frome a boooke").

          It's been an entertaining time...
          "I can put any old tat in my sig, put quotes around it and attribute to someone of whom I've heard, to make it sound true."
          - Voltaire/Benjamin Franklin/Anne Frank...

          Comment


            #6
            ...and I feel proud of myself for the moment of not stoving his head into a wall when he said I had disappointed him by 'breaking ranks', not helping him bully the client into submission.
            "I can put any old tat in my sig, put quotes around it and attribute to someone of whom I've heard, to make it sound true."
            - Voltaire/Benjamin Franklin/Anne Frank...

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by cojak View Post
              I'm picking up the pieces from a upstart contractor who thought he knew better than the client and ignored their requirements - not giving them a choice, just 'best practice' ("I learned eet frome a boooke").

              It's been an entertaining time...
              These two words are each, on their own, quite harmless, but when combined in that order they annoy me quite a lot.
              And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

              Comment


                #8
                Where I am is pretty entertaining. They have a big project, with a waterfall methodology. And BA. And a test team. Guess what, it's on time, on budget and the quality is good.

                My project has me. It needs a bit of time from a software architect, a touch up from a BA, a smidgeon of testing.

                Of course any resource requests from me cannot be bet as there aren't any free resources.

                Then I find out that I am now fielding front line support requests as well as being a BA/Coder/architect/tester. Fair enough and I fully understand that "it goes with the territory".

                "When will it be ready suity?"

                "That's anyone's guess really"

                "Wha????"

                "Goes with the territory".

                Make a space for me on the bench will ya.
                Knock first as I might be balancing my chakras.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Stevie Wonder Boy
                  This is the trusted advisor deal. You need to carefully establish credibility. The key is to not overstate the probability of downstream risk, but play up consequences of the risk occurring. So the likelihood of the release going wrong, even though you've taken every chance in the book is still quite low, but if it does go wrong ... You may go out of business ....

                  My other tip, document in Crayon, keep it very very simple, no long words or intricate diagrams. You know they are children, so don't overload them. They will actually thank you for this.
                  Can you stop raising the tone please?
                  The material prosperity of a nation is not an abiding possession; the deeds of its people are.

                  George Frederic Watts

                  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postman's_Park

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by suityou01 View Post
                    Where I am is pretty entertaining. They have a big project, with a waterfall methodology. And BA. And a test team. Guess what, it's on time, on budget and the quality is good.

                    My project has me. It needs a bit of time from a software architect, a touch up from a BA, a smidgeon of testing.

                    Of course any resource requests from me cannot be bet as there aren't any free resources.

                    Then I find out that I am now fielding front line support requests as well as being a BA/Coder/architect/tester. Fair enough and I fully understand that "it goes with the territory".

                    "When will it be ready suity?"

                    "That's anyone's guess really"

                    "Wha????"

                    "Goes with the territory".

                    Make a space for me on the bench will ya.
                    Suuuuiiiiityyyy!
                    The material prosperity of a nation is not an abiding possession; the deeds of its people are.

                    George Frederic Watts

                    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postman's_Park

                    Comment

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