Hi All,

This is not a programming question but a question about how to establish a
connection with a client with the potential of getting future business.

I was asked to fix an MS Access database for a small department in a very
large company. The database was developed by an employee with virtually no
database experience and finally reached a stage where they could not get the
information (reports) they wanted because of numerous design flaws. The
database is used by 5-6 employees to take inter company orders for custom
made promotional materials (broachures, etc.).

I could add tables and queries on the fly to get the information out that
they want, however, if they add fields, etc., then it is most likely the
report will stop working. Bottom line they want a quick fix which will not
work over the long haul, they did not see this

The question: How would you get your foot in the door with this company? My
only contact thus far is the employee who made the database. I would be
willing to completely redesign this database for a very low fee $1-2,000
which would mean investing about 80% ($6-8,000) of my time to get future
business. What would you do?

Thanks,
Barry

On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 18:02:58 -0500, "Barry Edmund Wright"
<barry.edmund.wright (AT) NOSPAMrogers (DOT) com> wrote:

Qualify the opportunity. That means, talking to the decision makers
(NOT your friend) and finding out:
* needs
* urgency
* budget
* competition.

Need: what is the pain? What happens if you don't?
Urgency: when does it need to be resolved?
Budget: what have you allocated for? When will the budget be approved?
What's the return on investment?
Competition: does the president have a nephew with a computer?

If you don't do this homework, you may be chasing a phantom.

Good luck

-Tom.

Hi Tom,

All good guidelines Tom.

Need: They can't get what they need without me!
Urgency: They need the Year-End-Reports now!
Budget: No budget but they can find the money!
Competition: No competition - as far as I know!

ROI: I guarantee ROI on all projects.

So if the above is true, I shouldn't be wasting my time and should get the
contract without having to offer much of a discount.

Thanks, I'll keep my ear to the ground and keep checking the wind.
Barry





"Tom van Stiphout" <no.spam.tom7744 (AT) cox (DOT) net> wrote

"Barry Edmund Wright" <barry.edmund.wright (AT) NOSPAMrogers (DOT) com> wrote in
message news:SbWdnR7C970_XkDcRVn-iA (AT) rogers (DOT) com...
is problem if low employee order work because YOU not get credit for work
yes? all of the ways make deal to manager or owner or man what write money
check ok? make good db app to use by many departments if possible so YOU
name get around. then more departments say YOU good guy. pretty soon more
work come fast. all of the ways YOU write department manager say please sir
all of the ways ask ME for db app bid before pay some other guy or stupid
employee. never YOU should cut your money charge never never never!

M. Fong MVPA (Taiwan Free China)

"Mary Fong" <nospam (AT) nospam (DOT) net> wrote

Thanks Mary, I understand what you are saying. I will need the department
manager's direct approval before commencing with any work and do the best db
I can to get my name around. I hope that more work will come because of my
work. And it would be a good idea to get the names of other department heads
and send them a letter asking for the opportunity to do some db work for
them and being able to have the original department head as a reference. I
do think that I will give a discount on the original job so I can get my
foot in the door.

Great input Mary, appreciate your thoughts.

Regards
Barry