Why I don't give fixed price. Software developer story.

http://a.khavr.com/2007/12/24/why-i-dont-give-fixed-price-software-developer-story/

by akhavr • 19 years ago

8 7 19 years ago

a.khavr.com

Why fixed price estimates on software development contracts are ruining customer's business. Some math inside.

icky3• 19 years ago

Fixed bid should mean fixed scope (fixed in STONE), with all change requests in writing and done on an hourly basis.

akhavr2• 19 years ago

It should, but it almost never does.

The only spec that's is not subject to interpretation is the software itself. Otherwise it all boils down to relationship between the customer and the developer: personal trust, etc. And, of course, this creates immense place for psychological games, which mostly are lose-lose kind of game.

icky3• 19 years ago

If the client's playing games, don't give them an inch. It will never end well if you do.

reeses• 19 years ago

It's amazing the number of people who don't get this. Not every change order has to have a cost, but every change in scope should go through the process. It should be just painful enough that your clients don't request random changes, but easy enough that they use it. Changes in scope in and of themselves aren't bad as long as the other legs of the triangle change as well.

Why I don't give fixed price. Software developer story.

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