Re: "Webulating" RPG/ programmer tools

David,

I don't disagree with you. Not at all.  I am only saying that from a purely
financial point of view, I do not see a hard ROI.  This is my business. 
Code/400 is an investment. *If* I decide to buy it, and I might anyway, it
would not be because I expect a dollar return.  It would be for the
intangibles.  Paalease!! My interests *are* aligned with my client's
interest, as much as I'm sure your interests are aligned with your clients.
 But before I make an investment in anything, I'd like to have a clear idea
as to why.  And I'm not going to kid myself into believing that this will
somehow pay for itself when clearly it won't.

You make a good point about clients being "interested in learning about any
tool or technique that will allow them to be more efficient."  DBU spread
like wildfire around here because some local consultants liked it.  If I
remember correctly, this topic came up when Jon mentioned IBM's troubles
with marketing the product. An earlier poster suggested that IBM distribute
consultant copies.   I don't want to give the impression that I'm
soliciting freebies from IBM :^), but this idea has some merit!  Some of
the benefits of bringing in consultants are the new ideas, skills, and
experiences that they bring in with them.  Often I'm asked if I know of a
good software package that does (fill in the blank).  Word of mouth sells
alot of software.  

kk
----------
> From: David Morris <dmorris@plumcreek.com>
> To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: "Webulating" RPG/ programmer tools
> Date: Wednesday, March 04, 1998 12:24 PM
> 
> Kathleen,
> 
> Think about what you are saying.  I doubt your clients cares about your
financial
> return.  Your interest should be aligned with your client's interest.  My
experience has 
> been that the client is always interested in learning about any tool or
technique that will 
> allow them to be more efficient.  In several cases I have been asked to
provide training 
> to staff programmers on the use of these tools.  You are lucky that
computing is so 
> inexpensive today, a well outfitted system will cost under $10,000 and
you no longer need 
> leased lines, controllers, etc.  A self employed mechanic probably needs
to spend a lot 
> more.  These tools also allowed me to work off hours which mutually
benefitted the client 
> and myself.
> 
> David Morris
> 
> >>> "Kathleen Kostuck" <kkostuck@execpc.com> 03/04 8:56 AM >>>
> Well, that's the thing.   I don't see where I will be getting a financial
> return by switching to Code 400.  The return would be to the client only,
> in terms of increased productivity. Yes, I'm all for increased
> productivity. But the fact is that I personally would not see a return.
> 
> I'm already billing as many hours as I can while still raising 2 little
> kids, if not for them I could work many more, the demand is there!  I
don't
> need to create it.  I already have a good reputation, I already charge
what
> I think the market will bear.
> So at this point, the only reason to switch would be due to personal
> preference.
> 
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