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From: rfenney@netcom.com (Robert J. Fenney)
Subject: Re: Consulting/Marketing Partnerships
Message-ID: <rfenney-180396201916@rfenney.slip.netcom.com>
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References: <4il4f1$11oj@thor.cmp.ilstu.edu>
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 04:26:02 GMT
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In article <4il4f1$11oj@thor.cmp.ilstu.edu>, jcjaegle@odin.cmp.ilstu.edu
(Drew & Jenn Jaegle) wrote:

Jean,

Unfortunately it happens all to often. There are reasons to recommend a
change to a client but the client still has the final say. In my last
contract the client asked for a certain C++ compiler. I know the compiler
had bugs in a critical area that we needed (OS/2 thread support) and so I
did two things, I first built a prototype to show the client what they
asked for and why the compiler could not be used. I then compiled the same
program under the envirinment I wanted to use instead. The client saw that
I was right and agreed to the modification to the contract (remember those
things that are negotiated before the work begins?) and the work proceeded.
Along the way I should them a lot of defferent tools that they could use at
different phases of the project including VisualAge for Smalltalk BUT work
proceeded in the tool set we agreed on. 

As far as VSE not being the right tool, finish your prototype and if it
meets your requirements stick to your guns and the consulting firm will
either finish the contract as specified or you need a new consulting firm
(or not)!


Just my .02 cents.

Robert

> I'm currently an analyst with a large corporation that has just recently 
> 
> (past six months) decided to start developing OO applications using VSE. 
> 
> My company hired a consultant about three months ago to help us with the 
> 
> migration to Smalltalk from PL/I. Last week the consulting company 
> 
> recommended that we should choose another development tool like Forte or 
> 
> Dynasty. In the mean time we have already started to develop a Technical 
> 
> Framework using VSE and some initial prototyping. 
> 
> I have two main points that I need some feedback on:
> 
> 1. The reasoning behind switching to another development tool, so says 
> 
> the consulting company, is VSE's memory requirments and lack of adequate 
> 
> application partioning. Are both these concerns valid?
> 
> 2. Recently we heard a rumor that the consulting company has an 
> 
> exclusive marketing partnership with Forte and is working on one with 
> 
> Dynasty. Naturally those happen to be the two tools that they 
> 
> reccommend! (Go figure!!) Is this common with all consulting companies? 
> 
> I thought a consulting company's main purpose was to help the client 
> 
> make an informed decision that will help solve their current business 
> 
> problem.
> 
> Thanks for listening!
> Drew
