Frustrating Client - advice please

[darrylmg]

It's really pants when you're the only one in there, that knows something like the back of your hand.
That's one thing I find quite difficult to deal with. I should hire myself a buddy of equal skilling, just to keep me sane.

You need an ally!
I've been in a situation like yours (though not as high profile) whereby you can recommend this and that, but like NLUK says, they don't sound committed.
Just don't be tempted to over-sell any of your recommendations, don't get bitten when/if they bite; keep on plodding nice and regular.
You need to find someone, anyone that has a little more clout, that can help you sell this work/feature/improvement to the business bods.
Your PM sounds like he might be trying out some newly acquired skill (ITIL?) for putting this stuff through the proper way. Maybe you could tame him a little too ...
Try having a regular walk or lunch with the locals, maybe they will come round to your way of thinking. The problem with permies, is they get stuck in the 9 to 5 mood, so don't stretch themselves.

[amorts]

All great advice lads....it really is the stuff I keep telling myself over and over.

Apart from the subbing out part - do you guys do this regularly? I have never came across anyone who has used that clause before.

I hope I can get my mate in to help me drive some positive action within the next two weeks. In the meantime I'll try to stay calm!

[malvolio]

All great advice lads....it really is the stuff I keep telling myself over and over.

Trying to beat the need for workable ITIL processes into a bunch of recalcitrant techies and coders, you'll soon learn that the trick with getting people to accept change is to get them to think it's their idea: "This is what's wrong, what do we need to do to fix it", then kind of lead the conversation the way you know is the right answer (or your version of the answer, anyway). Not easy, but a necessary skill IMVHO

Apart from the subbing out part - do you guys do this regularly? I have never came across anyone who has used that clause before.

I hope I can get my mate in to help me drive some positive action within the next two weeks. In the meantime I'll try to stay calm!

Remember that the contract is to deliver something; how you get there, and to some extent who actually does the work, is really your call. You're not there to do the client's bidding (leave that to the dev team), you're there to meet an objective. As long as you own the contract and are responsible for its delivery, all the RoS says is that you can send in someone else. Personally I tend to be a one-man band, by the nature of what I do, but that's just me.

The old mantra applies - "Think like a business".

[malvolio]

You do? I looked up to you like and older brother.. a much much older brother

One day, Padwan, you will achieve the necessary wisdom. Feel the horse...

[billybiro]

So what so you think a consultant does do then?

Someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time?

[kevpuk]

Someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time?

Surely more someone who advises you on how to tell the time, from your watch?

[Dallas]

Someone who borrows your watch and spends 3 months on a 100-page powerpoint containing flash charts that noone understands to tell you the time?

FIFY

Invoice in the post

[malvolio]

Surely more someone who advises you on how to tell the time, from your watch?

Nah. Someone who proves to you that your watch is wrong.

[Taita]

1. Keep head down.
2. Keep invoicing.

HTH

Yes!

[flipFlop]

Any guidance from people?

What precisely is your question?