[66] in Tooltime
Response from Joan Beardsley
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Barbara Goguen)
Thu Apr 4 10:32:10 1996
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 10:32:03 -0500
To: wade@MIT.EDU, cmitch@MIT.EDU
From: goguen@MIT.EDU (Barbara Goguen)
Cc: tooltime@MIT.EDU
She was unable to receive the attached Excel document outlining our counter
proposal, so I faxed it to her this morning. She did respond as follows to
the issues I raised in my email. Her responses are marked off by *****.
> - MIT will provide Project Management
> - Requirements will focus primarily on first rollout - the new Help Desk
> - Prototype is a series of screen mockups, not functional (this is how you
>have described it). One question we have is what software tool(s) do you
>use for prototyping?
>************
>We generally to the screens right on the Scopus product unless it isn't
>installed, at which point we use Visio or Paint or something else which can
>you proto. the screens.
>************
> - We will handle the bulk of testing, training, and documentation.
> - We will handle all Systems administration and Database Administration.
> - We will monitor quality assurance, making sure agreed to work gets
>completed and meets our specifications.
> - We need to determine what is "adequate" work space for Scopus consultants.
>It appears as though we will have a room on campus that is actually divided
>into two spaces. One space could act as a configuration, testing and
>meeting room. It has 2 Macintosh, 4 Windows machines and a Sun
>workstation, white boards, phones, and reasonable table and floor space.
>There is also a separate adjoining smaller room with a computer and a
>phone. It would really help to know what Scopus consultants will be
>needing in terms of space.
>************
>Sounds perfectly fine what you have set up. We like to put something in
>there regarding work space because believe it or not, there have been times
>someone has shown up on site with literally no where to sit to do anything.
> What you have described is perfect.
>************
> - In Phase IV of the project, you mention delivering an updated ER Diagram
>for the modified data model. Could you tell us what ER tool(s) you use?
>We have our own recommended product here called Silver Run which would
>already be installed on the machines in the space we have identified.
>***********
>We use ERWin internally. If you are using something else that can be
>populated from the existing datamodel and your folks are familar with it, it
>should not be a problem.
>**********
> - With our making customizations to the base Scopus product, we need to
>know how future releases of Scopus software might interfere with or affect
>our customizations.
>**********
>Scopus provides upgrader scripts for any Scopus baseline module changes and
>database changes. As far as your mods, they live in the database. When an
>upgrade occurs, we are either adding new tables for additional functionality
>or extending existing tables, never wiping out structures existing. We can
>talk you through this once a consultant is onsite but this is common
>practice for us to provide the upgrader with each release.
>***********
> - If there are schedule slips much beyond the estimated 1.5 months, we'd
>like to know that the slips are due decisions on our end, not delays on
>yours. If the project does slip due to delays on your end, we'd like to
>know what recourse we might have to get things back on track.
>**********
>John Howe and I will work with you on this. John will be monitoring the
>progress closely so that anything that could effect timing is brought to
>each of our attention immediately and dealt with. We want MIT as a
>referenceable customer so we are focused on working with you to make you
>successful. Please keep in mind that part of the 1.5 month is work on your
>part with us to prevent scope creep and determining what is really required
>and doable in that first phase.
>**********
> - We would want to complete work in the timeframe of 1.5 months.
> - We would want work to start within 2-3 weeks of today, if at all possible.
> - Once we agree to a proposal and overal cost, is it a fixed cost and if
>so, what happens if testing takes longer than expected?
>**********
>We don't do fixed price bids. All of our bids are time and materials. If
>something takes longer than anticipated due to our problems, we will work
>with you to keep you whole.
>**********
> Conversely, if
>things take less time than anticipated, would we be charged less?
>*********
>You are only charged for time used. Therefore if it only takes 3 days of
>time rather than an estimated 5, you are charged only for the 3.
>**********
> - At our end, Connie Mitchell will be reviewing the contract language and
>comparing it to a standard consulting contract that MIT has used in the
>past. She will come to some determination as to how to proceed with some
>basic language.
>
>*************
>Let me know if there are additional questions and I will take a look at your
>fax.
>John Howe will be scheduling the resources within the account.
>Thanks,
>Joan
-barbara
goguen@mit.edu
617-253-6135
