Al, I dont have the answers to all your questions, but would like to comment on the fourth one. d) Being that this is such an untried model, would the other developers in the skunkworks arena support the winning team to ensure that they succeed in delivering the project at the highest possible quality and within the exact time they promised to do so? If yes, what is the structure that skunkworks would use to do this? 1. I like the fact that you mention that this is an "untried" model. Meaning that it is new, and therefore requires time and careful thought into how practical it would be. While it is nice to have this proposition, it is also wise to consider the dynamics of freelancing. Most (if not all) freelancers work independently, and in few occasions, as part of a team. Perhaps the reason why people are taking time to respond is because a freelancer needs to be proffessional, and it is best to avoid having to "promise too much" before carefully thinking how workable the model would be. 2. The fact that this is a new model shows that there is a need for this type of interaction between freelancers, which points out a new level of opportunities! 3. If each freelancer would sign an individual contract and get paid individually, wouldnt it be easier then for the company to just contract the freelancers on individual basis instead of the team approach? that way, they eliminate the need to hire a project manager, and use their already existing internal/outsourcing project manager. At the end of the day, its biashara - cutting costs and maximizing profits! 4. When it comes to bidding, of course, the proposing company would critically look at all bidders, and what experience they have, what they have done before etc.....Even if a team of freelancers was to come up with an impressive portfolio - amidst other companies bidding for the project, I would be interested in knowing one thing: Is the need to test the new model so so vital that the team of freelancers would gain some level of leverage in the competition? Regards, Muthoni On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 11:05 AM, Al Kags <alkags@gmail.com> wrote:
Colleagues,
From Alex's rejoinder and from Barrack's response under a variated subject line, I am left with no choice but to think that this team does not have the capacity to work together as a team viz my specific questions - not without government leadership from what I understand.
I notice that no one bothered to answer the questions as asked and so on the specific matters I raise, I am not able to know whether or not this team has any capacity that I or the organisations I mentioned may need. Please correct me if I am mistaken, but the following questions have not been addressed:-
a) Can you form a team consisting of Project Manager (to assure everything is done in time, guide the proposal making etc); Designer (who does outstanding designs in CSS); Developer(s) who can work well with Google Aps - integrate Gmaps etc into the site; mobile developer to develop mobile apps, etc; integrator to ensure that the site is seamless?
b) Can your team come together and bid for the project in detail - including what you can put together, timelines, budgets, documentations etc? (Each member of the team would sign a contract and would be paid as an individual for their quoted rate)
c) Can the team that wins the bid implement the project in such a seamless and timely manner, delivering such high quality that the project can stand up as a model that the government, organisations and companies can use to contract you?
d) Being that this is such an untried model, would the other developers in the skunkworks arena support the winning team to ensure that they succeed in delivering the project at the highest possible quality and within the exact time they promised to do so? If yes, what is the structure that skunkworks would use to do this?
To this end, it occurs to me that the easiest option is to simply ask for companies to express interest and go that "usual route"? Interestingly a number of companies have been quick to send me expressions of interest (which defeats the purpose, if the original proposition was to give developers who are freelancers a chance?
By the way: I really do think we should not create an impression that government should hand-hold the ICT industry in terms of enterprise development. That should be the role of entrepreneurs. Government should be following the money makers - not the other way round. My views.
Cheers.
Al Kags ----------------------- Founder, The Desturi Trust http://www.alkags.com
On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 6:29 AM, Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com>wrote:
Actually it's the ICT Board that needs a senior staff member with knowledge on the subject in order to offer leadership. This has been lacking for a long time.
On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 5:59 PM, Al Kags<alkags@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all.
Much has been said on this forum about government, organisations and companies not giving much work to developers who do are not companies. having spoken to a few people who could give the contracts etc., i understood them to say that the concerns were that their concerns are:-
1. They cannot be assured of the freelance developers level of quality. 2. They cannot be assured of the freelance developers delivery time - that they will deliver everything they say they will at the appointed time 3. That they require too much supervision 4. That they over promise. 5. The development of a website/application requires several competences - designer, IA, developer, integrator etc. The contention is that you guys don't/won't work together as a team.
Here's a question:
If an organisation/ company was to decide to do a call for entries/ tender of sorts for a significant web project to be delivered by a team of freelance individuals from this forum, can it be done?
The sub-parts of these question are:-
a) Can you form a team consisting of Project Manager (to assure everything is done in time, guide the proposal making etc); Designer (who does outstanding designs in CSS); Developer(s) who can work well with Google Aps - integrate Gmaps etc into the site; mobile developer to develop mobile apps, etc; integrator to ensure that the site is seamless?
b) Can your team come together and bid for the project in detail - including what you can put together, timelines, budgets, documentations etc? (Each member of the team would sign a contract and would be paid as an individual for their quoted rate)
c) Can the team that wins the bid implement the project in such a seamless and timely manner, delivering such high quality that the project can stand up as a model that the government, organisations and companies can use to contract you?
d) Being that this is such an untried model, would the other developers in the skunkworks arena support the winning team to ensure that they succeed in delivering the project at the highest possible quality and within the exact time they promised to do so? If yes, what is the structure that skunkworks would use to do this?
Here's my thinking. A lot of the developers and other related professionals here are passionate and really good at what they do, and they often just need a chance. Not everyone can be employed by the 3mice etc of this world and so its a challenge to give everyone a chance.
Given the concerns expressed by the client group, the onus is on interested people here to prove to them that the model of contracting individual freelance professionals here is a workable one.
I know one organisation that would be interested in trying it out. So before they make a further move, I bring the idea here to you and ask,
what is possible?
-- Al Kags ----------------------- Founder, The Desturi Trust http://www.alkags.com _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Skunkworks announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science - http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi - http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
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