Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 23:39:04 -0700
Reply-To: Greg Bryant <gbryant@SLIPNET.COM>
Sender: "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From: Greg Bryant <gbryant@SLIPNET.COM>
Organization: Slip.Net (http://www.slip.net)
Subject: SAS Quality Partners...? (REVISITED)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Michael and Keith,
Please re-read my posting. This is not a flame but you have both
missed
the point.
I have been a SAS Consulatnt for 15 years and have a pretty robust
understanding
of the SAS Language, the goals of SAS Institute and the policies
surrounding
the
procurement of consultaion service in the corporate sector, Your advice
is
interesting and,
I believe, well-intentioned but it is not appropriate for the question I
posed
(and it
was a question, though loosely worded, and not a request).
SAS Instiute is a business. It is one of the most outstanding
companies I
have
had the opportunity to observe and I count myself among it's staunchest
supporters
in the corporate community. As a business, they strive to be
competitive and
finacially
successful. The Quality Partner Program is not akin to a church group,
it is
an effort by
the Institute to enhance its relationship with licensed clients via
selected
indivduals,
organizations and businesses. If you refer to your QPP agreement, it
states
that the
partner
"...
- will undertake to position SAS for new, expanded projects at
customer
sites
whenever appropriate. When such projects do come up, you will,
whenever
possible, provide the lead to the Instiute.
- wil provide at least one new customer reference each year. "
All engines run on fuel, guys.
I really don't want to make this a thread because we all have
more
important
things to do.
greg
------------------------------------
Quality Partners,
Again, I am interested in hearing from independent consultants
about their
QPP experience and how it has benefited their relationship with current
and
prospective clients. Has the Institute provided you wiith referrals
that met
your
expectations? Are these referrals short-term (days,weeks) or long-term
(months)? Can you say that the enhanced marketability of a Quality
Partner
and/or
the referrals is worth the potential 5.000.00 in goods, training and
opportunity cost that
one might incur as a participant? If your expectations were not met,
do you
think
it was because you misunderstood the program going in or did the program
fall
short of its proposition?
This is not a survey and I appreciate any information you are
willing to
provide.
greg
> To reiterate: this guy
> has some very intelligent things to say about what's important.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Keith L. Gregory, Ph.D.
> Statistical Information Technology Consultant
> Information Development & Decisions
> e-mail: klg@dnai.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bassett Consulting Services, Inc. [SMTP:0002395748@MCIMAIL.COM]
> Sent: Saturday, September 06, 1997 18:56
> To: SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: SAS Quality Partners, what is your experience?
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> CONTENT: re: SAS Quality Partners, what is your experience?
>
> SUMMARY: you may be missing the point
>
> REL/PLTF: n/a
>
> NAME: Michael L. Davis
>
> INTERNET: Bassett.Consulting@worldnet.att.net
>
> AFFILIATION: Bassett Consulting Services, Inc.
>
> P-ADDR: 10 Pleasant Drive, North Haven, CT 06473
>
> PHONE: (203) 562-0640
>
> FAX: (203) 498-1414
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> On Fri Sep 05, 1997 11:40 pm, Greg Bryant
>
> <Gregory.A.Bryant@NCAL.KAIPERM.ORG> wrote:
>
> > I am interested in hearing from independent consultants enrolled
>
> > in the SAS Quality Partner program. I believe it is an excellent
>
> > opportunity that can only get better over time and would like to
>
> > know if it has led to an increase in solicitation for your services.
>
> > I'm particularly interested in how it has affected your ability to
>
> > market direct to a client pool or maybe even break that Preferred
>
> > Vendor barrier. I've spoken with Loretta a couple of times over
>
> > the years and realize there are definitely benefits beyond
>
> > employment, but let's start at the bottom line.
>
> >
>
> > Many thanks,
>
> >
>
> > greg
>
> Greg, IMHO, the referral aspect of the SI QPP program is less
>
> important than the ability to improve one's understanding of the
>
> SAS System and its future direction.
>
> If you want to improve your marketability as a consultant,
>
> become a more capable consultant. First the brokers, and then
>
> finally the actual clients will find you.
>
> If you feel compelled to directly improve your marketability,
>
> consider volunteering to help your local SAS user group. Local
>
> users groups are always looking for good speakers. Every decent
>
> consultant knows at least one interest topic well enough to share.
>
> No local user group nearby? Start one. SI can tell you how.
>
> If you are worried about breeching the Preferred Vendor barrier,
>
> you may be going at marketing in the reverse order of priority.
>
> Sell your potential clients on hiring you and let them fight the
>
> battle of getting you on that list.
>
> Preferred Vendor lists are used by organizations buying commodity
>
> services. The last thing you should strive to be is a commodity.
>
> Then you will find yourself competing against novice programmers
>
> willing and foolish enough to work for extremely low rates and
>
> under unattractive working conditions.
>
> Strive to differential your abilities so that when the call goes
>
> out for a SAS consultant, the client gravitates to you instead of
>
> just any SAS contractor whom may be available.
| 
