Hi,

Microsoft Dynamics?
Really?


MartinaJ

>HI Al,
>Thanks for the comments as always.
>
>I am actually working with this client as the project manager to rewrite the application I have done for them (over the past 25 years) onto a new platform. So in general, I have the trust of them. Because they want to re-engineer some of the main screens, with some of their managers pushing "think outside the box" in the meetings, a lot of ideas are getting thrown out on the table. Which is not bad in itself. The real problem comes in that they now have a young IT guy on staff - who has never done any programming - and so he throws out ideas that are definitely poor design. The staff get confused by this, somewhat, as he is the young "whizz" kid (he is actually good at systems work) and as we know, he who speaks loudest with the most confidence sometimes wins the show.
>
>I am actually not worried as some of the staff see through this. And the company we have engaged to work with me is really good. We did a joint project for them about a decade ago and they have shown themselves capable of dealing with "loose cannons" before. When we have had items like this come up at joint meetings for the current project, they back me up and people accept what they say. They are a small company but they typically do projects for some well known Canadian multi-nationals so when they talk, it carries some weight.
>
>I do find that having a bit of terminology gives some authority when speaking. And even without terminology, some of their managers "get it" when you discuss certain concepts.
>
>Sometimes I think it is a case of "the new shiny object" seems better. And this might be partially because they know that VFP is dead-ended. I am educating them that even though we are moving to a new platform, and even though we are changing the "style" of the screens, that they are still going to be storing 95% of the same data and it still has to be done properly. I just need help from this outside company to reinforce these points (which they will do). After one of our first joint meetings, they already recognized that there was a "loose cannon" in the room as they brought it up after the meetings...and they said they have dealt with that before.
>
>We are making the switch mainly because I would like to retire in 2 to 3 years (or at least go to about half time) and they needed to be on a new platform anyhow. We also wanted to pick a small company that has enough depth that they could be supported long term. It looks like the new system is going to be built on top of Microsoft Dynamics. They have said they have done a few projects with it and it gives the basic CRM platform that is often needed and then they extend it as needed. I am about 3/4s the way through the specs and they have seen that and said that so far, nothing in the specs cannot be done in Dynamics.
>
>Anyhow, better get back at the specs as want to be done with them this week!
>
>Thanks,
>Albert