It isn’t easy for someone without an IT background to choose or use software, let alone design or take over custom development.
I’ve worked with a lot of IT people myself, both as the client and as the developer. Of course no two people are the same, but here are the problems I’ve run into most often.
Communication is often quite difficult. On the one hand, most IT people don’t like negotiating. On the other hand, it’s very hard for two people to represent their positions on a product when they have completely different knowledge of the field.
On one side, it’s hard to understand what could possibly cost so much in that one extra button. On the other, it also happens that a developer deliberately hides behind the client’s lack of information to get out of certain tasks.
I think transparent communication matters, and unfortunately it can cause trouble in any business situation. What I can help with is representing the client’s needs and helping them understand the real IT challenges – which is often useful for both the client and the developers.
Have you bought a website, just had a new server set up, or had a bigger piece of software built for you? It’s important to sign that acceptance certificate only once you’ve checked everything thoroughly. Software testing is a profession in its own right, and if it’s not your field, it’s easy to pay for something you’ll regret a month later.
What problems can come up at handover?
- some promised features don’t work properly, and this is hard to notice
- the system works, but crashes easily – it’s common for it to fall over after a day or two, or for an update to break it, and much of this can be foreseen
- it works reliably, but further development is impossible or very expensive
Services
- Choosing software for your field
- Taking over custom-built software
- Resolving disputes
- Closing a project / checking delivered software
- Process optimisation and automation
- Assessing an IT crisis
- Finding the right specialist for a given problem
- Consulting for startups
Sound familiar? Let’s work together!