[casual_games] A little humor on a Friday

[Tom Hubina]

1. If a contractor takes a deal knowing he can't get it done on time or
on budget, then they're a jerk who should be shot. Sadly, this happens
very often with desperate contractors who end up pushing their problems
on to their client by over-promising and not being able to deliver.
There have been multiple clients of mine where I've been bidding against
a desperate contractor who came in with a low bid and I warned the
client that they couldn't complete the project on time for those
numbers. Every single time the client has gone with the cheap guy
they've gotten screwed as a result (often needing me to come in and save
the project). Those same clients don't doubt me anymore and don't deal
with the cheap folks if they can possibly avoid it.
2. If a contractor misunderstands the requirements or overestimates
their abilities it is their duty to inform the client as soon as
possible (BEFORE the project slides into being late). Doing so allows
the client and contractor to work out a reduction in the scope of the
requirements, extend the schedule, or do whatever else is needed to get
their project finished while there is still time to do so. There have
been a few situations where this has come up and getting the client
involved as early as possible has allowed me to maintain very good
relationships and produce a product that the client is happy with. To
reinforce this point, the client should _never_ be the one to tell you
that you're running late. You should be the one to tell the client that
you _will_ be running late if something doesn't change.
3. If the requirements for a project change after the deal is finalized
then either the contractor figures out a way to accommodate the changes
within budget and schedule, or the deal is re-negotiated. Saying "Yes"
at this stage when it jeopardizes the timing of the project is just
another form of #1 above. Making the customer happy doesn't mean always
saying "Yes". Saying "No" and working with them to find a solution that
will actually work on schedule will make them much happier.

Trust isn’t something that happens just because you signed a contract
with someone. It develops over time when both parties treat each other
with respect and professionalism.

I don't know anything about your particular situation, but think about
how you've dealt with your client so far and ask yourself if you've
followed the above guidelines. If you have then if they start being a
pain they're not being reasonable (it happens, move on). If not, then do
what you can to rectify that as soon as possible.

Tom

> -----Original Message-----
> From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org
[mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org]
> On Behalf Of Nicolás Vinacur
> Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 4:40 PM
> To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [casual_games] A little humor on a Friday
> 
> There are lots of projects where stuff is added and it was not planned
at
> first. There are lots of projects where you are working and suddenly
> deadline change for x reason.. There are a lot of people who can just
say
> 'no' and there also a lot of people who wish to make the customer
happy
> and
> won't refuse, and instead will want to add the most of his own to have
a
> better project.
> 
> If this company have agreed to deliver at some date, it is theirs
> responsability to do it, I guess that very few people would say yes
from
> advance to something that they know they won't be able to do, at least
> honest people.
> 
> But the problem here is that if you hire somebody, you should trust
them,
> and think that they're working at their best.. Otherwise you won't
succeed
> if you think that all the world is against you. Thinking that they
won't
> to
> do the best for you, means that if you tell them that they're exceding
the
> time, won't help at all because they obviously are aware of that.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gabriel Gambetta" <mystml at adinet.com.uy>
> To: "IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List" <casual_games at igda.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 7:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [casual_games] A little humor on a Friday
> 
> 
> >        El vie, 05-05-2006 a las 14:05 -0300, Nicolás Vinacur
escribió:
> >        You chose your team for the project. There
> >        must be people that work faster, perhaps more expensive. The
> > possiblity
> >        exist that they're working with their best intention but
can't
> > achieve your
> >        objectives because they simply don't qualify for your
> expectations.
> >
> > Offering your services to perform a task you know you're not
qualified
> > to perform in the available time isn't the best thing to do
especially
> > for a company that is trying to establish itself.
> >
> > And I definitely wouldn't count doing that as "working with their
best
> > intention" - your customer may have hard deadlines to meet and he's
> > counting on you. You don't know, so you must meet the deadlines no
> > matter what. Entering a project knowing you won't be able to meet
them
> > is irresponsible to say the least.
> >
> > --Gabriel
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Casual_Games at igda.org
> > http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/casual_games
> >
> 
> 
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