Yesterday galA was talking to a colleague (galB), and they share a common thought. As vendor they are suppose to help the civil servant (CS) with some design tasks. Upon giving the CS the initial design base on what they have so call ‘confirmed’ requirements, they are suppose to went through rounds of discussion, get approval and lastly get back to galA&B with the confirmed change and for them to start work.
(Well the above mention was suppose to be the ideal way of implementing something)
Instead galA observe that they like to go through draft pass it to them for change, then got through 2nd level change and pass back to galA&B for change again, then the 3rd level, so on and so for till final level. By then will be like 1-2 months down the road (depend on the availabilities of each level members). For such scenario galA&B usually charge base on the effort use for each change and a simple task effort can be blow up due to the changes (e.g. change of a title with minimum effort but can re-do for 4-5 times)
galA know some may said then just go through black and white for their confirmation on design. Well what she see is, that is of no use for the above scenario, as CS will tell her this idea is from Mr XYZ from round one discussion and that idea is from Ms ABC on another round discussion. Both are client, both idea they have to absorb and on a one fine day they will said Mr DEF have a better combination for what Mr XYZ and Ms ABC have in mind. And the third person idea they also have to take in cos he is from the same team just that he was on leave during the previous session. :(
Upon submission of effort use, the CS will complaint: “Wow!! why such simple task you guys charge so high? You are taking tax payer money you know?”
Oh my god, do they ever realize who is the one wasting tax payer money? Why can’t they simply take the initial draft, get all involved staff in for discussion, make refinement, and get agreement for galA&B to come out with the ‘real’ final design and show it to their very important management for approval on implementation (just one time change). Instead of depend on who free to contribute idea for different rounds of discussions. GalA think that will really cut down the effort they spend.
galA also have their problem, not that they want to charge high effort to the CS, but with the time they waste, who are they suppose to claim from and how do they account it to their respective company?
galA realize why her friends always complained life as vendor is not easy, because the civil servant time are precious while vendors' time are like nothing to them. So what if galA is also part of the working force and contributing tax? CS never respect vendor; they forget that they are also wasting tax payer money if not more then vendor.
I still remember when I just started working in this company for public sector, some ex-colleagues joked that we are civil servants’ servant – “so what do you expect?”
