[Sigia-l] love thy client (was Re: [Sigia-l] "Study: Content Management Tools Fail")

[Todd R.Warfel]

I think the two of you are actually attempting to communicate the same 
thing.

In my experience (I've been on both sides of the table), client's have 
a general idea of what the problem is they're trying to solve, but 1. 
don't know how to solve it.
2. don't know the full depth of their problem.

When I was a client, the main reasons we hired consultants:
1. To settle some internal debate we were having that our teams who 
were involved couldn't settle.
2. To analyze a system we've built and get a set of fresh eyes to look 
at it.
3. To bring in domain expertise in an area that we are lacking in some 
way.

The above reasons are also reasons I've been brought in as a consultant.

I think that typically, it's a combination of the client not knowing 
the extent of their problem and not knowing how to express/communicate 
their problem. Either way, it's our job as a consultant to help them 
figure this out. And don't forget to listen.


On Sunday, March 2, 2003, at 12:05 PM, christina wodtke wrote:

>> 1) Client - Most clients have a vague (really vague) idea about what 
>> they need to solve the problem.
>
> This is an arrogant and shocking statement, and I would never hire a 
> consultant that I suspected thought this.
>
> In my experience when I was on the other side of the table was that 
> the client had a very deep understanding of the problem. They weren't 
> always great at communicating it succinctly... But they knew not only 
> the problem, but all the ramifications of it (and btw, "the" client is 
> usually a dozen people.. you also have to figure out who beyond your 
> contact holds the knowledge you need). It may seem vague because the 
> client knows a bit too much.

Cheers!

Todd R. Warfel

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In theory, theory and practice are the same,
but in practice, they're not -- anonymous