Re: Remote Working

On Nov 1, 2005, at 9:05 AM, Paul Bowers wrote:

> Have any listmembers successfully worked via email on larger projects?
> If so, what were the problems experienced?
It isn't that hard, so long as you and your client agree on what's to be done and when. And so long as you keep your client informed. There are a lot of advantages to working remotely, not the least of which is that your client doesn't have to clear off deskspace. You have a certain amount of flexibility as to working hours, but you need to remain closely in touch by phone at least until you get far enough into the work so your client knows about what you're doing.

First thing you should do is make sure you and your client agree on expectations for the work, and some benchmarks for completion. You should also get him something in writing that outlines your understanding of the work to be done, a rough notion of the budget and how you'll bill him. If he wants time sheets, you can arrange to send them weekly via e-mail.

If the client is more-or-less disorganized or doesn't know you, he may feel the need to more-or-less hover over you, so your first job is to make sure you can come up with a substitute for hovering. Could be daily e-mails or PDF's of particular pieces of work or something he can fondle and be comforted that you're finishing the job.

Changes can be a bitch, especially if your client is always changing stuff. If you're working for a seagull-type (dives in, squawks, shits and flaps off) it can be a problem, because it forces the guy to do it remotely. That means more effort on his part, and you may not be informed in time. It'll also cost him money--seagull-types often don't think the stuff that they're changing should affect either budget or schedule, and you don't want either to get away from you. So keep your e-mails.

Christopher Wright P.E. |"They couldn't hit an elephant at chrisw@skypoint.com | this distance" (last words of Gen.

.......................................| John Sedgwick, Spotsylvania