I find it VERY dificult to make a GOOD plane and overview of a project. I mean, I can outline the whole project, no problem with that, but I find it hard to make most customers (non technical-related-positions ones mostly) understand what is "EXACTLY what they need". I mean, is not that I cannot treat the professionaly, but most people I've encountered want "a device to do the task", you may ask: Size? Functions? Operating voltages? Ja! No way. For these people I usually make a, somehow, open spec, and a very quick prototipe, so they can see how the product will look like. So? Well, I guess it will depend on the customer. Some, will let you choose where in the whole building you may put your device, some other will tell you that they want you yo use *that* zenner. you can tell prety much wich customer you are dealing with just by they vocabulay, and how they explain you what they need. I have in my desl, right now, an spec for a given job. The equipment is just a multi-menu display to control an already developed system. This spec, for this simple task, has about 10 pages (writen by the customer) and explains EXACTLY what will happened if you press each key on every posible (imaginable) situation. Unfortunatly my (short) experience tells me this is hard to find, but it's really helpful.... Well, good bye Mauricio Jancic Janso Desarrollos Microchip Consultant (54) - 11 - 4542 - 3519 -----Original Message----- From: pic microcontroller discussion list [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of Dal Wheeler Sent: Viernes, 24 de Octubre de 2003 21:14 To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Subject: Re: [PIC:] Questionnaire for enquiries How about "Do you actually have funding for this project now?" I've gone the rounds before with the mad inventor crowd only to find later that the budget projections were based on "I'll go find vc/angel investors and formalize a business plan after you've developed a prototype." I'd imagine you'd want to word it a bit more elegantly in practice. Not a problem I suppose for regular contract work; but a lot of guys propose a bit of "blue sky" in exchange for some discount/free development work. Many here on the piclist are probably more experienced at this than me, but it still kind of surprises me at the informal nature of a lot of these "business plans". Maybe it's just my neihborhood... :') ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jinx" > Any suggestions for general questions to ask potential customers ? > > Some thoughts - > > When is this needed ? > > Is this a prototype or proof-of-concept only ? > > Or is quantity required ? How many ? > > What precision / accuracy ? > > Power supply ? > > Environment the product will be in ? > > Size ? Importance of size ? > > Cost ? (or cost vs quality) > > Longevity ? > > What is your budget ? (is that relevant or appropriate ? Could you > apply for a development grant for example to help ?) > > Have you approached another developer, what result ? > > Is there a competing product ? (Details ? Reason for you making your > own ?) -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads -- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 7.0.193 / Virus Database: 260.2.1 - Release Date: 22/10/2003 -- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 7.0.193 / Virus Database: 260.2.1 - Release Date: 22/10/2003 -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads