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Guidelines for Someone Seeking a Consultant (Read 757 times)

Acebanner Full Member Offline Posts: 123 Location: New York City Joined: Jan 23^rd, 2008	Guidelines for Someone Seeking a Consultant May 14^th, 2008 at 7:40pm	Print Post
	This is not specifically a Sesame question, but I think it's related. I'm thinking about finding a consultant to help me design and implement a Sesame database w/Quickbooks integration. My question is, how would I best prepare myself for the process? I've written up some notes about how our existing systems work, and how I would like our new system to work. Right now I'm reading up on how to chart out this new database using a book called 'Database Design for Mere Mortals' (which is software independent) and so far it's been a good read, I would recommend it. So, in order to work with a consultant, what information should I expect to supply to the consultant, generally? The book I'm using, BTW, can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Database-Design-Mere-Mortals-Hands/dp/0201752840/ref=pd_bb... So far it's been great!


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The Cow YaBB Administrator Offline Posts: 2530 Joined: Nov 22^nd, 2002	Re: Guidelines for Someone Seeking a Consultant Reply #1 - May 14^th, 2008 at 7:49pm	Print Post
	I'd recommend that you listen very carefully to the questions they ask you. A good programmer will see that at least half of their job is gather and organize the requirements. They should be making few recommendations of any kind until they have a good handle on the goals of the project. If they start telling you what they recommend before they could possibly know the ins and outs of your business and projects, be very suspect.

	Mark Lasersohn&&Programmer&&Lantica Software, LLC
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Acebanner Full Member Offline Posts: 123 Location: New York City Joined: Jan 23^rd, 2008	Re: Guidelines for Someone Seeking a Consultant Reply #2 - May 14^th, 2008 at 7:51pm	Print Post
	Quote: I'd recommend that you listen very carefully to the questions they ask you. A good programmer will see that at least half of their job is gather and organize the requirements. They should be making few recommendations of any kind until they have a good handle on the goals of the project. If they start telling you what they recommend before they could possibly know the ins and outs of your business and projects, be very suspect. That makes sense. Thank you for that.


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Alec Lanticans Offline Posts: 200 Location: Ascot, England, UK Joined: Nov 22^nd, 2002	Re: Guidelines for Someone Seeking a Consultant Reply #3 - May 15^th, 2008 at 8:25pm	Print Post
	I find it helps to also take a 'back to front' view of your database requirements. Sketch out - with pencil and paper if necessary - all the reports and printouts that you need to generate from your database. Very often this makes clear just what you need to store and how it should be stored in order to be able to achieve the outputs you need.

	Alec
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Bob_Hansen Senior Member Members Offline WOW, They have the Internet on computers now! Posts: 1861 Location: Salem, NH Joined: Nov 24^th, 2002	Re: Guidelines for Someone Seeking a Consultant Reply #4 - May 19^th, 2008 at 3:38pm	Print Post
	Glad to hear you are doing this. It sounds like the info you got from the SANE meeting is being used. Remember it is much better to design on paper first, the erasers are much easier to use.

	Bob Hansen Sesame Database Manager Professional Sensible Solutions Inc. Salem, NH 603-898-8223 Skype ID = sensiblesolutions
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