NockerGeek (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nockergeek) wrote2004-03-30 04:20 pm
nockergeek) wrote2004-03-30 04:20 pm
(no subject)
One of our existing clients has put out a request for proposals from the various development companies it's worked with in the past to do a redesign/rework of its e-commerce solution. Currently, they're using one system for their internal systems/offline orders and one (coded and maintained by us) for online orders. The client's offered two options:
1) Discard the current e-commerce solution and go with the e-commerce system offered by their internal system vendor, or
2) Rework the existing e-commerce system to better interface with their internal system
Naturally, my boss is gunning for option #2. Thing is, he wants me to call the vendor who maintains the internal system and "feel them out". He's trying to offer a partnership and doesn't want them turning around to our client and pushing for option #1, so he wants me to try to use my one connection with the company to scout out their direction on things.
This really bothers me.
For one, it just seems a bit under-the-table. There's something about the way he asked that made me feel very reluctant to do this, like I'm spying on a potential competitor. It's even worse because it's using someone I've worked with before and built a professional relationship with. I hate the idea of using someone like that.
The other thing is, I'm a developer. I'm not a salesperson. I'm not a schmoozer. I write code. Frankly, I don't care what the competitor's intentions are. If they can offer a better solution, then more power to them. I don't think they will, but at the same time I believe our solution should stand or fall on its own merits rather than trying to surreptitiously cling to the heels of another provider. We should just be focused on offering the best damn solution we can offer. I don't care about inter-vendor politics, and I don't want to get into somehow sabotaging their attempt to provide a service.
I just feel heavily conflicted. I don't want to let my boss down, but I don't want to take this step into morally-questionable waters just for another job. We've got plenty of work coming in -- more than we can handle, really; we don't need to play dirty, even a little, to get another project..
1) Discard the current e-commerce solution and go with the e-commerce system offered by their internal system vendor, or
2) Rework the existing e-commerce system to better interface with their internal system
Naturally, my boss is gunning for option #2. Thing is, he wants me to call the vendor who maintains the internal system and "feel them out". He's trying to offer a partnership and doesn't want them turning around to our client and pushing for option #1, so he wants me to try to use my one connection with the company to scout out their direction on things.
This really bothers me.
For one, it just seems a bit under-the-table. There's something about the way he asked that made me feel very reluctant to do this, like I'm spying on a potential competitor. It's even worse because it's using someone I've worked with before and built a professional relationship with. I hate the idea of using someone like that.
The other thing is, I'm a developer. I'm not a salesperson. I'm not a schmoozer. I write code. Frankly, I don't care what the competitor's intentions are. If they can offer a better solution, then more power to them. I don't think they will, but at the same time I believe our solution should stand or fall on its own merits rather than trying to surreptitiously cling to the heels of another provider. We should just be focused on offering the best damn solution we can offer. I don't care about inter-vendor politics, and I don't want to get into somehow sabotaging their attempt to provide a service.
I just feel heavily conflicted. I don't want to let my boss down, but I don't want to take this step into morally-questionable waters just for another job. We've got plenty of work coming in -- more than we can handle, really; we don't need to play dirty, even a little, to get another project..