Assume the Position...

[the_gneech]

Well, the client we have been knocking ourselves out for and thought was happy came round with a baseball bat this morning ... now everybody here is reeling, stressed, and pissed off.

In times of stress, I turn to a Krackel King Size, and Cherry Coke.

Mmm ... sweet Cherry Coke ... you're the only one who really understands me!

Aaaaah...

That's better. Okay, back to work!

-The Gneech

Comments

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

I've always thought that it was the client who wrote the specs for what they expected.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

That would be nice, wouldn't it? :) Not THIS client! They hem and haw, so we write up a specs document and send it to them; they approve it, we code to the document, and then they come back and say they're very unhappy. :P

-The Gneech

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

My personal rule is as follows:

first spec change, I'll do whatever needs doing. As an EE my job is to make it work. I get the spec in writing, even if I have to write it myself.
Second spec change, I insist on talking with the customer at a meeting and find out for myself what they are doing and what they need from my company to accomplish their goals. At this point, I conclude that there are too many sources of interference and somebody has to cut through the hubris and get at the facts. Again, I get stuff in writing.
Third change, I recommend that additional money be charged as we have already delivered to them three times and that's already above and beyond the call of duty. I'll continue work if directed by those above, but I also point out that supporting the client is now costing the company money rather than making income. That usually gets people moving.

Working without spec is understandable when you are doing R&D type work (which I have.) But such a project takes longer and costs more because nobody knows what to do and it's like nailing jello to a wall.

*Hands you a box of nails and a diaper* It's easiest to catch the jello in the diaper before nailing it down :)

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

That's pretty funky Jell-o flavor, then! *Eeeeew!*

I admire your plan. In a Dilbertian corporate world, people like you and our beloved dragon are something unique to be admired.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, I'm handed the diaper once it's full and told to spin gold out of it. :)

However, I can be snarky, too. I have now taken to e-mailing written confirmation of every little change, right down to the last comma. If that's the way they want to play it, I'll oblige them.

-The Gneech

this is why I work with set prices.

[talldan.livejournal.com]

I say taking good notes is key- I've been to a few meetings for contracts, and if you can be friendly enough, you can interweave the business questions with some other important stuff. I often have to deal with the personalities of people who "Don't know what they want" or "Don't know what art is, but they know what they like". THOSE are the ones that ALWAYS come back with a vengance.

It's communication, and sometimes, it's like pulling teeth just to get them to say what 's REALLY on their minds or where they're coming from. Especially if they think they know more than they do. I like talking ro Raemonde about this one only for the fact that he's specific with his stuff, and will actually say in the middle "Nono, you misunderstand... THIS is the angle I'm shooting for... and we discuss it in everything from technique to how it would affect the characters. It may be half work, half b.s. session at a pizza place, but I tell you, I make more headway (even when I get to talk about MY stuff) than with some guy who wants to compile a business in a week and just got his License approved. ^.-. With what I do, it's measure twice, cut once", and with what prettypolli does (trust me, she's been there before too), she takes the BEST notes because of people she's had to learn from.

[snapcat.livejournal.com]

there is nothing in this world that could replace sugar as a stimulating relaxant...

GO SUGAR!

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

They make king sized Krakels? I've never seen them larger than bite-sized in the assortment bags!

'tis the custom, alas.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

"The customer never knows what he wants until he sees what he gets."

And what he sees is never what he actually wants.

"At a assessing blame he's a whiz!
It's everybody's fault but his!"