Comments on: ★ The trap of multiple vendors in website design and development http://akibjorklund.com/2009/trap web generalist Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:03:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paulo-Juarez Pereira http://akibjorklund.com/2009/trap#comment-16368 Paulo-Juarez Pereira Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:22:33 +0000 http://akibjorklund.com/?p=1739#comment-16368 I found you because I was looking for stuff on Web development. I am a linguist . I was born in Brazil and have been living in the US since the Napoleonic wars, it seems. Did undergraduate and graduate studies in the US (MA in linguistics). Here's why I'm writing: I've recently volunteered to be the webmaster of VVA310.org, a Vietnam Veterans organization (I'm a veteran myself). Needless to say, I'm over my head, especially now that we are selecting a Website developer to create a new look for the Website. But I'm not writing to inquire of your services as a Website developer. That's not it. I'm writing to offer you something--for free: editing of your English-language written materials. I know how to edit stuff to be published in English. Have quite a bit of experience in that, Chicago Manual and all. So I thought to myself: Aki Björklund writes about Website development, and I want to learn about Website development; it is also true that people who edit other people's stuff learn quite a bit about the stuff they edit. Thus, if I had a chance to edit Aki Björklund's written materials in English, I'd learn about Website development--which is what I want to do. ERGO: I decided to make you this offer. If you are interested, you may do a test: send me some small material, and I will return it to you, edited, with a plan on how to get the collaborative work going (using Google Docs, Skype, and the like). But of course, I realize this idea of mine may not interest you at all. If so, sorry for taking up your time, and I apologize for the intrusion. Regardless, thank you for your time. Paulo I found you because I was looking for stuff on Web development. I am a linguist . I was born in Brazil and have been living in the US since the Napoleonic wars, it seems. Did undergraduate and graduate studies in the US (MA in linguistics).

Here’s why I’m writing: I’ve recently volunteered to be the webmaster of VVA310.org, a Vietnam Veterans organization (I’m a veteran myself). Needless to say, I’m over my head, especially now that we are selecting a Website developer to create a new look for the Website. But I’m not writing to inquire of your services as a Website developer. That’s not it.

I’m writing to offer you something–for free: editing of your English-language written materials. I know how to edit stuff to be published in English. Have quite a bit of experience in that, Chicago Manual and all.

So I thought to myself: Aki Björklund writes about Website development, and I want to learn about Website development; it is also true that people who edit other people’s stuff learn quite a bit about the stuff they edit. Thus, if I had a chance to edit Aki Björklund’s written materials in English, I’d learn about Website development–which is what I want to do.

ERGO: I decided to make you this offer. If you are interested, you may do a test: send me some small material, and I will return it to you, edited, with a plan on how to get the collaborative work going (using Google Docs, Skype, and the like).

But of course, I realize this idea of mine may not interest you at all. If so, sorry for taking up your time, and I apologize for the intrusion.

Regardless, thank you for your time.
Paulo

]]> By: A website is never done – Aki Björklund http://akibjorklund.com/2009/trap#comment-14112 A website is never done – Aki Björklund Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:35:11 +0000 http://akibjorklund.com/?p=1739#comment-14112 [...] a recent post in that I warned against multi-vendor web projects. I ended with a claim: A website is never done. It should be constantly analyzed and developed [...] [...] a recent post in that I warned against multi-vendor web projects. I ended with a claim: A website is never done. It should be constantly analyzed and developed [...]

]]> By: Aki Björklund http://akibjorklund.com/2009/trap#comment-13460 Aki Björklund Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:33:28 +0000 http://akibjorklund.com/?p=1739#comment-13460 Excellent point as always, Jouni! A team is a team, even when assembled from different companies. Excellent point as always, Jouni!

A team is a team, even when assembled from different companies.

]]> By: Jouni Heikniemi http://akibjorklund.com/2009/trap#comment-13459 Jouni Heikniemi Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:20:06 +0000 http://akibjorklund.com/?p=1739#comment-13459 Interesting post, and I agree with many of the points. I would like to highlight one more aspect: <em>Finding a single company</em> isn't necessarily the right advice when taken literally. There are large software companies that offer all these services, but still cannot bring their act together. Finding a single <strong>team</strong> is the solution, but of course far less easy to do – comparing companies at least seems easier. My advice would be that once you've narrowed down your company choices to a select few, call each of them – separately, of course – to a meeting where they must be able to envision a reasonable concept of the site in a two-hour workshop (this should make them bring out their best of each art). If the team struggles in bringing their technological vision together with the actual design, they are not your team. If they come in burgeoning with new, good ideas and still manage to listen to you, sign the contact outright. Interesting post, and I agree with many of the points. I would like to highlight one more aspect: Finding a single company isn’t necessarily the right advice when taken literally. There are large software companies that offer all these services, but still cannot bring their act together. Finding a single team is the solution, but of course far less easy to do – comparing companies at least seems easier.

My advice would be that once you’ve narrowed down your company choices to a select few, call each of them – separately, of course – to a meeting where they must be able to envision a reasonable concept of the site in a two-hour workshop (this should make them bring out their best of each art). If the team struggles in bringing their technological vision together with the actual design, they are not your team. If they come in burgeoning with new, good ideas and still manage to listen to you, sign the contact outright.

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