How do I develop a scope of work and price for a project that has many variables?
I am used to having employees who work hourly, however I want to switch to contracting out for specific skills in online marketing. I'm not experienced in scoping work and managing contractors - and I know it's very different. How can I get up to speed overnight on how to do this? For example, I want someone to develop a campaign strategy and execute it. I'm not sure if the campaign will include a webinar and strategy on that until the campaign is developed.
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Jan 28, 2016
Start by having one person develop the strategy for the purpose of getting others to quote on it. If I write the strategy then it will be limited to my approach. If I write the strategy for someone else to execute, I will want to be sure everything is considered. You can consider the same person for executing the strategy but do not limit it at first.
Creating the plan is best done by someone that is not implementing it.
Jan 27, 2016
Use a Project Charter with milestones and work break down structure for the many variables.
Jan 23, 2016
Easy Stuff, Dona ! I have been making and evaluating engineering bids for more than 20 years now. Now,a bid is a bid is a bid and the commercial conditions pertaining to all bids remain same. Its basically a contract.
Are u really sure that you want to do everything in one go? I ask this since if you start wrong -you will end up wrong 100% . Why not try to make it one activity at a time.
Start by making a spreadsheet and mentioning the budget you can afford. I am presuming you know what figures are realistic. . Put activity 1 as campaign strategy. Ask for people to tell how they will do it if they get the job. (No one will work for free but you'll get a lot of ideas). Fix your contract up with the person you gell most with.
For things, if you aren't sure (like a webinar) keep the option and use it as a extra item. the condition will be under the sub-title.
" Each bidder is requested to quote for charges a/c planning a webinar, submission of the plan A (and plan B -if you wanna be safe). Prices can be indicated on per 4 person/basis. This can be approximate but the deviation should not exceed 15% either way.
i'M sure that you have got the idea..All the best
Jan 23, 2016
I would most definitely think of a PFP (pay for performance) model. The basics of this model would be to attach most if not all of the fees to performance of specific KPI´s that are important to the business. This absolutely takes away time tracking, media and resources from the compensation equation. This will keep the conversations around results and timeframe.
Think about this:Nobody minds paying someone $10 per customer when we know that the customer will spend $100+ & everyopne whants to move away from being charged $10,000 for a campaign that could potencially bring in 2,000 customers (but it´s uncertain).
So why shouldn´t we start paying our vendors and employees based on contribution and impact?
If you would like to talk more about this, feel free to contact me.
Fernando Dada
Cheers,
Jan 22, 2016
During the interview decide on how much you are willing to risk or pay up front---then create a budget cash flow analysis to determine your Break even on the project and then pay upwards from there based upon an incentive package. Also know by using the same budgets when to decide that your idea is not working to the benefit of both parties.... Expectations are very important to be spelled out
Jan 22, 2016
Pay for them separately. Of course get quotes, then contract for a strategy with prices chunked out for execution. Sometimes the person who develops the strategy isn't the best to execute it and vice versa. Plus you will have options of sequencing and timing it based on need and budget. Make sure you get results examples from the strategy employed elsewhere before moving to execution. Also, don't be afraid of running test blocks of executions without committing to full roll out and billing.
Jan 21, 2016
I would suggest being very deliberate. Perhaps more so, since you aren't in the habit of purchasing consulting. [my approach is one I have followed, but others will have their own approach or will base an estimate on time and "butts-in-seats" or....]
Personally, I might suggest that you bring a consultant in who looks something like a teacher. You don't have to do all these steps face-to-face immediately. Telephone and or Web-based meetings often can move through the initial understanding that is needed to scope the work accurately.
I often suggest that you ensure that the Consulting firm know the entirety of your business, so as to more completely advise you.
For yourself, I would have you work towards defining the project fully; and, that you list the Objectives you want the project to achieve. {Ultimately, I would have your Consultant help you narrow the Objectives to two i (3 max.) objectives. If there are key-stake-holders (as there are in most situations), I also would encourage the consultant to meet with each of them and to begin to absorb the culture and work situation.
Next, I would have the consultant facilitate the creation of the workplan.
Beginning with the 2 Primary Objectives, the facilitator should identity fully the Current Situations, the putative Desired End-State, the obstacles to Success, and then lay out the tasks (each with its own Objective) , sub-tasks, inputs / outputs, interim deliverables, Deliverables, QA steps, et. al. .
Allowing the consultant to co-create the workplan ensures that your team agrees with it in its entirety, including the deliverables, your beginning situations, metrics for success, etc: or, the "whole 9 yards." Moreover, it also allows your team together with you to identify for the Consultant those tasks or and sub-tasks that can be done in part by internal talent.
With the Consultant you then can estimate the hours for the sub-tasks and be very detailed.
Finally, creating the Desired End-State (my metaphor) is like weaving a tapestry. So, often multiple stakeholders need to be integral. For example, when a project appears solely to be Tech, it still should included a communications element, an educational component, and where useful, research, etc.
Jan 21, 2016
Whatever the approach it should much the number of variables, and if not known at the outside, should adapt on the way. That means small iterations, reviews and re-negotiation.
Jan 21, 2016
Donna, there are a couple of areas you need to look at, first is make sure you have a solid Independent Contractor / Mutual NDA in place for the people who will be delivering the work for you . Also you will need to create a Services Agreement that the Independent Contractor will sign that outlines the deliverables, project completion dates and pricing for the project.
Second as you have in-depth experience in regards to the elements of a campaign strategy but may not have the specific experience in scoping you will need to get the , you should be able to ask individuals to estimate the number of hours to complete the specific elements required for the project and their cost. Once you have this info you can than offer the project to the individual if they meet your requirements that includes their pricing.
Last step is sending pricing proposal to your client with associated mark up.
Of course you will need to make a requirement that the individual delivering the work sends you a weekly update to ensure the project will meet your customer's deadline.
Hope this helps, feel free to contact me directly if you want have any questions.
Jan 21, 2016
thank you, some good additional tidbits here
Jan 21, 2016
Pretty good question that has driven many crazy, especially when you end up on the short side of the stick.
Any project should have a design developed that outlines specifically what you want to accomplish and how you want to get there, sometimes this is referred to as a Project Plan. This would list what you would like to see implemented and various phases within development. After you have defined what it is you want then you can setup how you want this to flow, listing each functional aspect of the project with an indicator of required and added. The operative word is to prioritize each function.
If you not sure how you want the end product to look, review your competition and see what they all have. You also need to determine your interaction with potential clients as well as those you have.
Preparing a plan is essential to managing not just full time employees but more so with contactors. It sets expectations and goals that need to be reached at various points. You can pay on deliverables which insures you are in control of the product and drives your contractors to work as fast as possible to compete the task within the agreed timeline. As the process moves forward you can change the priority and add new items to the list as needed.
Good thoughts, thank you