Reply to: Ever been on a contract where...

[Old Hack]

I find that most clients (deffo >50%) seem clueless about what they're doing....

The good gigs are ones like yours where they leave you alone. The bad ones are where they expect miracles when its not possible.

The good gigs are the ones that pay you on time, and lots. The rest is just fill.

[bobspud]

Time to head for the door when that happens.

Why do you think I am job hunting in January?

[northernladuk]

I find that most clients (deffo >50%) seem clueless about what they're doing....

The good gigs are ones like yours where they leave you alone. The bad ones are where they expect miracles when its not possible.

Are you sure it isn't just you not understanding what you should be doing or your role in the project? I find it hard to believe that statement. I have been on some pretty chaotic gigs but to say a client is clueless sounds more like a layman blaming the management scenario. Hardly a professional analysis.

[psychocandy]

I find that most clients (deffo >50%) seem clueless about what they're doing....

The good gigs are ones like yours where they leave you alone. The bad ones are where they expect miracles when its not possible.

[cojak]

I have now worked at two places where that is not the case...

Even with all the evidence under the sun, the bunch of people that were responsible convened a meeting and said that it was impossible that it was their fault as that would look bad! So they openly decided the real truth (bare faced lie) and it became the truth.

Time to head for the door when that happens.

[ShandyDrinker]

I have now worked at two places where that is not the case...

Even with all the evidence under the sun, the bunch of people that were responsible convened a meeting and said that it was impossible that it was their fault as that would look bad! So they openly decided the real truth (bare faced lie) and it became the truth.

Glad to hear other people have encountered this too...

[bobspud]

The client... so long as you've got the audit trail/documentation/etc.

I have now worked at two places where that is not the case...

Even with all the evidence under the sun, the bunch of people that were responsible convened a meeting and said that it was impossible that it was their fault as that would look bad! So they openly decided the real truth (bare faced lie) and it became the truth.

[cojak]

The client... so long as you've got the audit trail/documentation/etc.

[ShandyDrinker]

And that's a problem for whom?

The client... so long as you've got the audit trail/documentation/etc.

[ShandyDrinker]

Hardly smart arsed, more cover your arse. So SD, what would the alternative be? Don't cover your arse? Don't deliver anything? Spend years defining requirements?

I'm delivery focused. Give me a deadline and some resource and a vague whiff of what you need and I'm off and running

I agree with you on cover your arse. There is no alternative. Clients sometimes don't take it well when you produce the audit trail to say that this is what you asked for and agreed to. I'm delivery focussed too but on some projects even that is not enough...

[cojak]

I've taken this approach quite a number of times... only to still be told once a solution is delivered that it was not what they were intending. The one thing a lot of clients cannot stand is a smart arse contractor who has something in writing that shows you have delivered what they asked for!!!

And that's a problem for whom?

[suityou01]

FTFY

Not nowadays my friend

[bless 'em all]

Hardly smart arsed, more cover your arse. So SD, what would the alternative be? Don't cover your arse? Don't deliver anything? Spend years defining requirements?

I'm delivery focused. Give me a deadline and some resource and a vague whiff of what you need and I'm off and running away

FTFY

[suityou01]

Excellent response!



I've taken this approach quite a number of times... only to still be told once a solution is delivered that it was not what they were intending. The one thing a lot of clients cannot stand is a smart arse contractor who has something in writing that shows you have delivered what they asked for!!!

Hardly smart arsed, more cover your arse. So SD, what would the alternative be? Don't cover your arse? Don't deliver anything? Spend years defining requirements?

I'm delivery focused. Give me a deadline and some resource and a vague whiff of what you need and I'm off and running

[bless 'em all]

I just turn up and do whatever insanity they ask me to do.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to minestrone again.

Then invoice, never forget to invoice.