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I usually go over what goals the customer wants to achieve for their
users, then create a solution. I have no problem then giving an NTE
price after that with a checklist of those features, and a clause
that any change will affect price. Feature creep will kill a budget.<br>
<br>
-Don-<br>
<br>
On 11/11/2010 5:10 PM, Ken Williams wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4CDC2376.F9B9.00A7.1@aed.org" type="cite">
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<div>I think the critical issue is whether or not there is
significant expectation of code work and experience in working
with APIs. My general impression from Drupal Con is that there
would be a sufficiently broad range of turnkey modules we can
use as building blocks, and we're looking for someone with a
broad enough view of those. In the current economy, it is
unrealistic to hope that most businesses, and particularly
nonprofits, will write a blank check, unless they already have a
successful earned income strategy or pre-approval and range of
motion from their own clients. A critical factor is whether or
not the client has a clear sense of their own strategic
objectives and what they want the product to look like and
do. In this scenario, the adept consultant comes as a resource
in strategies to manage costs and add value. Few clients,
however, are sufficiently rigorous at the front end, and hence I
do understand these reservations and concerns</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>Ken Williams</div>
<div>Senior Technical Advisor</div>
<div>AED Center for Leadership Development &</div>
<div>Director<br>
New Voices National Fellowship Program</div>
<div>1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #1049<br>
Washington, D.C. 20009<br>
202-884-8972<br>
202-884-8419 fax<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:kwilliam@aed.org">kwilliam@aed.org</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://cld.aed.org/">http://cld.aed.org</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://newvoices.aed.org/">http://newvoices.aed.org</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Want to learn about the nation's best leadership
development program for emerging leaders? </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Watch this:</div>
<div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://vimeo.com/7168443"
target="_blank">http://vimeo.com/7168443</a></div>
</div>
<div><br>
<div>And if you are an AED employee, visit the revamped AED
Workplace AIDS Web site!</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://awac.aed.org/">http://awac.aed.org</a></div>
<div> </div>
</div>
.<br>
>>> Sam Cohen <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:sam@samcohen.com"><sam@samcohen.com></a> 11/11/2010 4:45
PM >>><br>
I'm going to differ a bit on this. I don't think the project is
unreasonable at all as long as the client is flexible and
willing to work with you.. <br>
<br>
Sure, if you have a client who wants everything done is a very
specific way then with that type of time line it would be
impossible. <br>
<br>
But as long as the client understands open source and
understands Drupal, you can build an amazing site very fast. I
think it's premature to dismiss any situation as possible or
impossible or under budget without first assessing the client's
willingness to work with you.<br>
<br>
On a project like this, I'd say to the client, for that much
money you can have me for X number of hours. We will keep time
to a minimum by trying to incorporate existing modules, and
possibly adapting the requirements to those modules. Where
necessary we will customize things, but we will try to keep that
to the minimum necessary. <br>
<br>
As long as the client understands that the work is based on
hours and not specific specs, there's no reason it won't work.
In fact, you can come in way under budget. <br>
<br>
Best,<br>
<br>
Sam<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 3:59 PM, Bill
Fitzgerald <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:bill@funnymonkey.com">bill@funnymonkey.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="padding-left: 1ex;
margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204,
204, 204);">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">Hello, Ken,<br>
<br>
If you are interested in looking at platforms, you also
might want to look at VoiceBox: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://code.funnymonkey.com/" target="_blank">http://code.funnymonkey.com/</a><br>
<br>
Disclaimer: I'm part of the team that built and maintains
VoiceBox.<br>
<br>
It's free to download, install, modify, and use any way you
see fit.<br>
<br>
Screencasts are at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://code.funnymonkey.com/screencasts"
target="_blank">http://code.funnymonkey.com/screencasts</a>.<br>
<br>
RE the timeline: breaking your project down into a set of
phased deliverables might be a more maintainable approach,
as this would allow you to proceed in stages without
committing too much in the way of time/money into a small
development window. <br>
<br>
Like some of the other respondents in this thread, we are
booked up and not looking for work at the moment, but your
project sounds interesting, and this list is a good place to
find development talent. <br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
Bill</font>
<div class="im"><br>
<br>
<br>
On 11/11/10 12:41 PM, Marilyn Langfeld wrote:
<blockquote type="cite">Hi Ken,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Here's the intro to Drupal Commons: <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://acquia.com/products-services"
target="_blank">http://acquia.com/products-services</a>
and the description page <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://acquia.com/products-services/drupal-commons"
target="_blank">http://acquia.com/products-services/drupal-commons</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The other link I sent earlier is to Acquia's own
installation of Drupal Commons, which serves as a demo
site, allows you to join and try out the
functionality, and ask your questions.<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 3:35
PM, Ken Williams <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kwilliam@aed.org" target="_blank">kwilliam@aed.org</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="padding-left:
1ex; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px
solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">
<div style="margin: 4px 4px 1px; font: 10pt
Tahoma;">
<div>Thanks Marilyn, I really appreciate the
lead and the feedback. We'll revisit the
budget and see how we could realign what we
have.</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>Ken Williams</div>
<div>Senior Technical Advisor</div>
<div>AED Center for Leadership Development
&</div>
<div>Director<br>
New Voices National Fellowship Program</div>
<div>1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #1049<br>
Washington, D.C. 20009<br>
202-884-8972<br>
202-884-8419 fax<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:kwilliam@aed.org"
target="_blank">kwilliam@aed.org</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://cld.aed.org/"
target="_blank">http://cld.aed.org</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://newvoices.aed.org/"
target="_blank">http://newvoices.aed.org</a></div>
<div>Want to learn about the nation's best
leadership development program for
emerging leaders? </div>
<div>Watch this:</div>
<div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://vimeo.com/7168443"
target="_blank">http://vimeo.com/7168443</a></div>
</div>
<div><br>
<div>And if you are an AED employee, visit
the revamped AED Workplace AIDS Web
site!</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://awac.aed.org/"
target="_blank">http://awac.aed.org</a></div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div>
</div>
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</blockquote>
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<br>
<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://samcohen.com">http://samcohen.com</a>
<br>
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