Underestimations . . . (Full Version)

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Nicole -> Underestimations . . . (1/20/2007 5:43:51)

At the outset of this post some of you who have read this thread in the Accessibility Forum . . .

Government Department Websites

. . . may be wondering why I am posting about it again? That thread was really only intended to be about how much I should play the accessibility card with this particulay redesign project although indeed I have so many other questions having never tendered for a job like this previously.

Please also excuse my absorption with this at the moment, and the many questions I may ask. I will attempt to respond to as many other questions on these forums once things settle down.

But here is my question:

I seem to have grossly underestimated the time and intracicies of the website I'm quoting on, I don't know all of them but am aware of all of them, but at the same time I know Outfront Members who I can at least ask if they're interested in sub-contracting if indeed they're interested and also indeed if my knowledge of some things isn't up to par.

But the thing I'm concerned about right now is that I've underestimated the time it's taking me to even begin to properly formulate a quote for this website as there are many PDF files that occasionally throw up another time consuming activity, like for instance I don't know without looking individually at these PDF's just how many forms are involved, just a few minutes ago I didn't realise there was a secure login area for contractors etc.

I received the phone call to ask me to quote on this job on Wednesday afternoon. Friday morning I emailed the contact person to say I was looking at the site and working on my quote but It wouldn't be ready until Monday. How naive am I? I'm still wading through PDF files and nowhere nearer to starting to write the quote, before that of course I have to work out how I would go about doing the work, the page structure, etc, I already have a clear vision of how I'd like to present the site and using what colour scheme and imagery. But it's getting late on saturday night now, I wanted it in her inbox on Monday morning and I'm quickly running out of time for that.

I want to do the best job I can, I've waited for an opportunity like this for so long so I don't want to rush even the quote, so I'm now wondering whether to call the contact person first thing Monday morning and what to say?

She originally told me 10 to 12 pages, but so far I have 150+ actual pages within the site, I know she's not going to understand the mess the site is currently in, and am wonderng whether asking for a few days more to work on the quote is a good idea or not?

Please, in responding bear in mind that i move house again in about a week and have a mountain of other things on my plate. I really need to know whether I'm competing with anyone at the moment, to impress upon her that I need this job but more importantly that I want it because it really is very much inline with the types of sites I want to design, only until now I haven't been given the opportunity.

What should I do? What would you do?

Nicole



Mike54 -> RE: Underestimations . . . (1/20/2007 8:23:31)

Perhaps Nicole you're over analyzing the whole thing (not necessarily a bad thing). If the woman told you 10 or 12 pages then maybe that is exactly what you should base your quote on. Your evaluating the existing site and trying to build a quote on what it will take to improve and update with all the current content.
Put the base quote together based on what was asked for with stipulations for additional content, PDF's, Word docs, etc. Let them decide what more they want to include but make absolutely positive they understand that their current content is significantly more than it appears and than they requested a quote for.

$.02




caz -> RE: Underestimations . . . (1/20/2007 14:30:00)

Mike is exactly right Nicole, work to the brief that you have been given and include a brief mention that the significant useful content of the site lies hidden and if they want this to be included in the future suggest that the whole job could be managed in stages. You would of course be delighted to discuss this with them and to provide individual stage quotes, with payment in stages too.

This would mean that they will be able to plan their expenditure better and you will have more control over your time management/income generation. [:D]



Nicole -> RE: Underestimations . . . (1/20/2007 17:53:24)

Thanks Mike & Caz,

I am over-analyzing but I have a tendency to do that often anyway. Most other jobs I've been asked to quote on have been small and so it's only taken an hour or two at the most to do a proper quote. With this quote I took the same approach, looking at every page (in this case loads of PDF's on a dial-up connection), making notes on what the content is about and where it would fit in a well organised site.

When I first noticed all the PDF's I thought exactly as you both have said, that i should just give her a quote for the site as is, just nicer, better organised, consistent, compliant and accessible (the templates and content on the html pages only). This was also backed up by a friend on the phone yesterday, giving 2 quotes instead of just one huge one that I knew they'd bawk at.

I think you are right though, I probably should just give them the basic quote with notes explaining, in brief simple terms, that most of their content remains "hidden" as Caz puts it, alude to web standards, accessibility and the legislation, and again as Caz mentioned, suggest that the site could be created in stages if they accept the mess that their site is really in.

Caz, your whole post was worded just so perfectly for this quote. Mind if I pinch some of the phrases you've used?

Thanks.



caz -> RE: Underestimations . . . (1/20/2007 20:21:26)

Copyright waived Nicole [:D]

I didn't work in local government for so long without picking up a thing or two - especially the carrot of helping then to plan their expenditure. [;)]



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