[olug] Server Farms

Sam Tetherow tetherow at nicusa.com
Wed Feb 25 19:48:09 UTC 2004


I echo Bill's opinion as well.  Obviously you know your boss better than 
I do (as well as your own abilities), BUT if someone comes and asks you 
if you can implement something for under a specific $$ amount but won't 
tell you what that something is, I would be very reluctent to sign on to 
such a project.  Having lived through far too many projects that were 
bid on prior to have much of any requirements, much less accurate 
requirements the one thing I can tell you about each project is that it 
came in over budget and significantly late.

I would honestly corner him and say, "If you are serious about this we 
need to discuss a few things if I'm going to give you an accurate 
estimate on feasibility".  It could be the case that he was not given 
any more information than you but until you atleast know what he knows 
about the project you are not going to give him anything other than a guess.

Bill Brush wrote:
> I'm not trying to be flip, but how can you determine if you can do task X
> if you don't know what task X is?  What if Task X involves OS/390
> mainframes and all you've had is experience on is Linux on Intel.  What if
> the project doesn't even involve Linux?
> 
> I guess if you really can't get any info on the project until you commit to
> it or not, then you have a choice.  Say "Yes", and leap blindly into the
> fray and have faith that you can overcome any obstacles, or say "No".
> This sounds like one of those "Great opportunities" that will either make
> you look really good, or really really bad depending on outcome.  Either
> way you'll most likely learn a lot.  It's up to you to decide if you want
> to take the risk.
> 
> Bill
> 
> olug-bounces at olug.org wrote on 02/25/2004 01:00:13 PM:
> 
> 
>>The only problem with this.. Is I don't get anymore information, untill
>>i can tell them i can do it.
>>
>>So... It seems without knowing what they want, i can't tell them i can
>>do it.
>>
>>Ok thanks anyways.
>>
> 
> 
> 
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> 


-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Tetherow                           tetherow at nicusa.com
Director of Development
NIC Labs (PSSG)                        http://www.nicusa.com



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