Re: Outsourcing

[Karen Steele <karen -at- BILBO -dot- SUITE -dot- COM>]

Steve Hollander says:
> In one case, I spent nearly a week reviewing source material and
>interviewing developers and prospective users.  The resultant proposal
>contained an elaborate outline of a full documentation set, sample formats,
>and a list of sneaky tricks (or Great Ideas) I was prepared to deliver on.
>My 6 days' work was given to a pair of secretaries to "implement."
>Other than the obvious "Don't deal again with anybody so unethical," does
>any of you people have any suggestions for handling such occurrences?

Time is $$.  I provide general plans on speculation.  By general plans I mean "I
 will
gather information by reviewing the source code and interviewing product
developers and customers."  Specific plans, taking a serious amount of time to
develop (as described above) are for sale.  I call it  a Feasibility Study. (Got
 that
from a marketing department that charged $125 per hour to develop the document
plan.)  Feasibility studies result in Documentation Plans, which can be followed
 by
the consultant, an employee or someone else.

Developers don't provide system specs for free, why should you deliver a
documentation road map free of charge?

Am I too hard-nosed about this?  I don't think so.  Neither do my customers.  I
know that many independent contractors in Dallas handle this the way I do -- but
what about other markets?  Anyone?

K. Steele
Independent Contractor
President, Lone Star Chapter STC