[OFFTOPIC] Medical practitioners and building trade people vs. software developers (was: Re: Goodbye, Lingnu)

[Oleg Goldshmidt]

sammy ominsky <s at avoidant.org> writes:

> On 15/11/2011, at 09:52, Oleg Goldshmidt wrote:
>
>>  In addition, one wants a consultant for stuff
>> that is outside one's core competency, so it looks like outsourcing,
>> which _must_ be cheaper than paying permanent staff, right?
>
> No, it's almost always more expensive, but should only be used when
> not intended to be permanent.  You can hire top talent for projects,
> then let them go do the next one elsewhere, on someone else's
> budget.

Irony/sarcasm is not part of SMTP, is it? ;-)

> Time and materials is my favorite type of contract.  I will happily
> work hours on your project indefinitely until you tell me to stop.
> Especially if you don't want to pay for a proper project plan.

T&M contracts typically include clauses that cap the overall cost
(unless you are a doctor or a lawyer, I suppose). Then somehow the
devious customer is so disorganized that the poor vendor reaches the
cap before real work even starts... ;-)

-- 
Oleg Goldshmidt | pub at goldshmidt.org