Comments on: 4 Ways to Navigate Project Scope Disagreements https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html a freelance writing resource. Wed, 06 Jul 2016 04:26:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lori Widmer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13898 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 13:11:52 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13898 That sounds like a positive outcome for you both. Very admirable, Damaria!

]]> By: Damaria Senne https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13896 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 07:49:00 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13896 Yesterday we had a chat and called it quits.

We haven't ironed out all the details of the end of our association, but we both agreed it's not working.

We ended up going to lunch afterwards and I'm glad I didn't leave behind a bridge in flames. Not that I have any plans to cross that bridge again, ever 🙂

Anyhoo, today it's my first day with that project off my table. What a relief!!

]]> By: Lori Widmer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13886 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 20:28:45 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13886 Damaria, that may be a relief, no? I think if she finds you unhelpful it's because she's becoming a little too demanding.

Glad it's almost over?

]]> By: Damaria Senne https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13885 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 18:17:10 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13885 Yes Lori I did. We have a project implementation plan, in addition to the our contract, which clearly states our tasks and by when they should happen. My client has a selective memory. Thankfully it's a short-term project based contract, so for now I just want to be able to finish it and get out.

There was to be some additional work to discuss after this contract but I doubt that will happen, as she's increasing beginning to see me as unhelpful as I try to navigate between work I'm contracted to do and what she wants me to do.

]]> By: Lori Widmer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13884 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:54:56 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13884 Oh, that's worse, Paula. There's no helping her if she's not able to articulate anything!

]]> By: Paula https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13883 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:01:46 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13883 I was paid in full, and quickly. I was actually paid long before the butchered piece was published.

I don't think it was the editor's ego or a need to put her stamp on it as much as her inability to clearly articulate what she wanted coupled with her indecisiveness.

]]> By: Lori Widmer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13882 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 13:33:12 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13882 Damaria, did you go back to them and explain that the scope of the project wasn't clearly conveyed to you? I sure would. It doesn't have to be confrontational, but I would certainly tell them you were expecting the content they promised.

]]> By: Damaria Senne https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13881 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 12:18:18 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13881 Aw Lori, I'm in slippery scope hell. The job brief was clear, and we had deadlines we agreed on. The problem is that systems that should have been in place to allow me to do my job are not there. For example, I needed a logo for the website and so I asked for that. Turns out they haven't done their branding yet. So she asked, could you quote me for that. And I did the whole branding thing, then moved on to the website. Only I'm finding out I have to develop content from scratch, when my understanding was that they did have the content ( information for static pages, photos and edited videos). Urgh! I just want it to be over. They pay quickly, no hassles, but doing the job it's hard going…

]]> By: Lori Widmer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13880 Wed, 25 Feb 2015 21:45:20 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13880 That's an awful experience, Paula! It sucks when you're stuck with a client (in this case, an editor) who insists on changing something — anything. Marking their territory, as if they need to when it's their territory to begin with. Maybe it's insecurity about their own abilities?

Did you get paid?

]]> By: Paula https://wordsonpageblog.com/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html#comment-13879 Wed, 25 Feb 2015 17:20:08 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2015/02/4-ways-to-navigate-project-scope.html/#comment-13879 The situation I ran into was an editor who assigned me to write first-person piece involving three how-to holiday gift projects. I'd included a few examples of gifts I'd made or received, and she said two of the three would work, the other one was too complicated for the average reader. I understood, and sent her a few alternate ideas. She said she was fine with whatever I chose.

It was my first assignment from her, so I wrote it and turned it well ahead of time in case she wanted changes. A month later she finally replied telling me she didn't like it in first person only wanted projects that could be made in less than 30 minutes.

I politely reminded her that most baked goods take longer than that. She upped the time limit to an hour. So I found three different ideas. Rewrote the entire thing – all along letting her know my goal was to get the copy as close to what she wanted as possible.

Flash forward a couple months. The issue comes out. The intro was totally re-written (badly, IMO) and only one of the examples I'd provided were used. It's so horrible I have never used it as a clip. The fault wasn't mine. Every step of the way I'd done precisely what the editor had requested. She kept changing her mind. I can't say I was sorry when I saw she'd left the company.

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