Reply to: End of Contract Report

[NickNick]

They won't act on any of your recommendations, if all that was needed was someone to point out the obvious flaws the place wouldn't be in the state it's in at the moment.

Well, there is a bit of history here, ClientCo are trying to transition from charity to profit making concern and a lot of the permies have been here for many a year, so may not be aware that it is possible to do things differently. They have brough tme into my area, another contractor to head up the Programme office, and one to lead the development area, so I had assumed that the experience we as contractors bring to the "business" was part of the contract as well as the standard deliverables.

You never know what the future may hold so don't assume you won't ever work there again just because the idea doesn't appeal at the moment. Be mildly critical at most, and don't spend any real effort on this 'report'. You've got their money now and they'll just file it at best.

Agree. I'll not spend too much time on it and not make waves with it, just state what's been done and what is left to do.

Thanks for everyone's advice on this.

NN

[NickNick]

I concur - if you've no interest in developing a relationship with the client then do the above.

Identifying problems and offering to roll your sleeves up to help is smart business.

Identifying problems and walking away is just being a smartarse.

Excellent advice, thanks.

[NickNick]

Find a sub and place them in there. Obviously you would take a cut of the daily rate.

Heh, Thank god that substituion clause eh? Except I've only 5 days left including to day and I can hack that.

[shoes]

They won't act on any of your recommendations, if all that was needed was someone to point out the obvious flaws the place wouldn't be in the state it's in at the moment.

You never know what the future may hold so don't assume you won't ever work there again just because the idea doesn't appeal at the moment. Be mildly critical at most, and don't spend any real effort on this 'report'. You've got their money now and they'll just file it at best.

[ruskithebear]

You can do that if you're feeling charitable. You could also write a report that says, 'I came here, I delivered x on time and to budget. Many thanks and goodbye...'

I concur - if you've no interest in developing a relationship with the client then do the above.

Identifying problems and offering to roll your sleeves up to help is smart business.

Identifying problems and walking away is just being a smartarse.

[Pacman]

Morning all,

So I'm about to finish a gig and ClientCo have asked for a report on what I've been up to here. No problem when it comes to the actual work done, I've covered all that off and outlined what is left to do. (Contract was just to fill in until they recruited a permie) However, the difficult bit is that they want the report to also include a section on "observations / recommendations"
Now, in all honesty, ClientCo need a rocket up their collective arses to sort a hole bunch of things out and the management both of the projects and the business are a shambles, but how to put that delicately? Or should I leave all the negative criticism out and just put something light and fluffy?

Cheers'en
NN

whole

[ratewhore]

This is the problem.

Do I want to work there again? No
Will I burn my bridges? No.

I want to let them know that I've found some areas where they as a business could improve greatly whilst still being professional. Some good advice on not identifying individuals and teams where the problems lie, and being general though.

Cheers
NN

You can do that if you're feeling charitable. You could also write a report that says, 'I came here, I delivered x on time and to budget. Many thanks and goodbye...'

[rsingh]

Do I want to work there again? No

Find a sub and place them in there. Obviously you would take a cut of the daily rate.

[NickNick]

This is the problem.

Do I want to work there again? No
Will I burn my bridges? No.

I want to let them know that I've found some areas where they as a business could improve greatly whilst still being professional. Some good advice on not identifying individuals and teams where the problems lie, and being general though.

Cheers
NN

[ratewhore]

Tell them the truth, you have been asked for your professional opinion so give it to them. If they wanted soft and fluffy or the easiest problem to be identified/fixed they would have asked a permie.

If you are a true pro you will tell them the way it is and be ready to have a professional conversation on your reasoning and thought process on getting them out of your identified problems (the door opens for a sales pitch)

Its a tried a trusted method of most consulting firms -

Tell client its a complete mess (which is why we are here in the first place)
Convince client we are the ones to fix it.
Spend the next 3 years fixing the clients problem.

what he said

[Cheshire Cat]

Agree with the above. Sounds like an opportunity to me.

[MrRobin]

Agreed...

Also this sounds like a chance for you to identify where you could do more work for them!! Just be constructive.

Exactly. Good advice. Be constructive, praising and do list the problems honestly (but not in a brutally honest way). Don't start pinpointing names or direct faults even if they're obvious, just suggest some solutions, preferably ones you are capable of carrying out for them, at a nice tidy rate, ofcourse

R

[dx4100]

Never burn bridges

Agreed...

Also this sounds like a chance for you to identify where you could do more work for them!! Just be constructive.

[ruskithebear]

Tell them the truth, you have been asked for your professional opinion so give it to them. If they wanted soft and fluffy or the easiest problem to be identified/fixed they would have asked a permie.

If you are a true pro you will tell them the way it is and be ready to have a professional conversation on your reasoning and thought process on getting them out of your identified problems (the door opens for a sales pitch)

Its a tried a trusted method of most consulting firms -

Tell client its a complete mess (which is why we are here in the first place)
Convince client we are the ones to fix it.
Spend the next 3 years fixing the clients problem.

[BrilloPad]

Never burn bridges