Corn, I would say we were indeed looking for conceptual deliverables, but probably more like actual FMP riffs, rather than pen and pencil sketches. We'd like to show you a how certain situations have been handled in the past and have you help us figure out how they worked and how they might work better in the future. Then we'd probably ask you to react to specific things we built based on your advice. We'd also like to have another pair of eyes on the basic structure, just to keep us honest.

As for scope and requirements, yes you're correct that cost is of primary concern. But it's also that we're working agile, to use the jargon. (Maybe flexible is the better word.) The requirements will come out of a build, and be judged based on how much better a job we do than the system currently in use. So, for example, rather than develop a detailed requirements document including field-by-field descriptions, we're just going to create the fields and approve the built DB as it progresses. Many small to medium consulting firms won't work this way, as no doubt you're aware. They require a certain sequence of events, and specific documentation which we feel isn't necessary on this project—and don't wish to pay for. Also, we have existing resources who will handle the lion's share of the work, including field definitions, layouts, navigation and scripting. These same companies don't find that prospect very enticing, in my experience.

Still interested?

> On 19 Nov 2012, at 1:10 PM, Steven James wrote:
> 
>> I'm looking for a consultant to assist my team with a new FileMaker 12 database to track photo rights for a series of magazines. Specifically we need help with overall table structure and relationship architecting.  We would handle the more mundane tasks, field definitions, layouts, navigation, look and feel, scripting, etc.
>> 
>> We were hoping to find an experienced individual, rather than a consulting firm, as we're trying to avoid a long and costly scope gathering and requirements discovery process.
> 
> The breakdown of work seems interesting to me. Typically when I'm modeling data and its representation in FileMaker, that includes creating the fields. Or are you looking for more conceptual deliverables (pen and paper), while you'll perform the actual implementation in FileMaker?
> 
> I'm also curious about your last statement. Speaking personally, I don't do things differently whether I'm representing my company or doing a job on the side, and I can't see why anyone would.
> 
> Perhaps it's the expense that is the primary concern, with an individual being more likely to charge a lower rate than a firm? I can see that, as individuals don't typically have the additional expenses running an office entails.
> 
> In any case, good luck with your search.
> 
> Cheers,
> -corn
> 
> 
> Cornelius Walker
> The Proof Group
> http://proofgroup.com/