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Conference ilbbak::us_sales_service

Title:US_SALES_SERVICE
Notice:Please register in note 2; DVNs in note 31
Moderator:MCIS3::JDAIGNEAULT
Created:Thu May 16 1991
Last Modified:Tue Sep 03 1996
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:226
Total number of notes:1486

91.0. "S.I. Program Roadmap" by WILARD::KPHILLIPS () Fri Mar 13 1992 15:37

    Earlier this week, I sat in on the Telecom Industry S.I. DVN.  In the room 
    were approximately 8 sales/sales support reps and 2 DS/EIS individuals.

    Out of the 8 individuals from sales, not one of them was aware of the S.I. 
    Program Roadmap Process.  The Program Roadmap is the "official" Process 
    to be followed in selling S.I. business.

    I have also seen this when I am called on to assist with project 
    opportunities.  Many of these "project" opportunities are truly systems 
    integration opportunities.  Because of the lack of knowledge regarding how 
    they should be handled, we are either losing business, not realizing the 
    true potential of such opportunities, or selling unprofitable business.  
    Some reps I speak to about this are eager to find out about how to 
    sell an S.I. opportunity but have not heard anything about the Roadmap.

    Even worse than the lack of awareness about the Roadmap Process is the 
    blatant disregard of it.  The attitude on the part of some is "Why risk 
    getting a big P.O. with all this stuff?".

    Can anyone tell me what programs or mechanisms we have to describe the 
    Roadmap to sales and sales support.  Is there any official mandate that 
    it be followed?  

    There is a lot of profitable S.I. business to be had, but only if we 
    recognize it and go after it properly.  We can only do this if we get
    the word out about our approach.

    -- Kevin Phillips (DS/EIS)
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91.1WHY NOT TRY-S.I.�!DPDMAI::AUTRYThu May 14 1992 10:5324
    > S.I. PROGRAM ROADMAP
    
    In reference to your question about the program roadmap, there should
    be a person in DCSS (OSS) who should be familiar with the roadmap.  I
    am in DS and I have been through several program reviews to determine
    if an opportunity was worth going after and I found it to be a valuable
    experience.
    
    One thing to remember is that DEC is new in the S.I. space and most
    sales/sales support are not use to the process of qualifying an
    opportunity to determine if any time is going to be spent on it.  The
    good news is there is a formal training course SELLING SYSTEMS
    INTEGRATION: A BUSINESS WORKSHOP that is 5 days.  I have attended the
    training twice, "yes twice" and it the best class that I have taken in
    my 9 years at DEC.  It is taught by Dave Gorka @ALF.
    
    The S.I. course is a simulation on how to manage an S.I. opportunity
    from Opportunity creation to delivery.  I just joined the Telecom unit
    in Dallas as a ASR "Account Support Rep" and I believe that there are
    numerous S.I. opportunities in Telecom.
    
    Hope this helps!!!
    
    Todd
91.2Another endorsementOFFPLS::GRAYThu May 14 1992 12:046
    Dave Gorka's 2 hour overview was one of the most popular and highly
    rated sessions at the January Manufacturing Symposium.  His methods
    could lead to significant SI wins for DEC in an Account Group where
    management supported the methodology.  His aggressive and creative
    have considerable merit for solid profitable business.  I support the
    previous note.
91.3ALOSWS::KOZAKIEWICZShoes for industryThu May 14 1992 21:2013
    With all due respect to Dave, his sweeping pronouncements of how we
    should sell SI and what motivates customers to buy leave me wondering
    if:
    
    a.  Dave has actually ever sold anything using the techniques he
    espouses.
    
    b.  Albany, NY is, in reality, a suburb of the planet Pluto, thus
    explaining the lack of sucess in applying said techniques to our
    customer base.
    
    Al
    
91.4Yes it worksDLOPAS::DLO22::GUSTAFSONTue May 19 1992 15:328
One thing Dave teaches is starting an engagement with a management 
consultant that is billable no later than the second call.

I wrote the letter of engagement that had our management consultant 
billable when he arrived.  One of his tasks (in the workstatement) is to
write workstatements for other projects for Digital Services to deliver.

It works in Tulsa. It ought to work in Albany.
91.5DENVER::DAVISGBI'd rather be driving my JagWed May 20 1992 15:0312
    Dave also is one of the few who have begun to recognize that we run
    software projects like we are designing and building a piece of
    hardware.  We try to predict what the final product will look like
    months in advance (via functional/design spec).  Change upsets our
    applecart.  Digital doesn't know how to manage change in a project to
    our advantage.   Other companies do (EDS, etc).  
    This is but one of the messages that Dave has.
    
    He's right.
    
    Gil