during requirements meetings like "How long will this take". I have
learned a standard response to any question I am not willing (willing
meaning I dont have enough information to respond accurately) to respond
to at the moment is "Anything is possible with enough time and money, but
let me go back and anlyze what you have asked for and come up with what
approaches we can choose from and how much each approach will cost in
time/labor." This way I am not committing myself to some verbal estimate
given in a meeting/phone call with 5 seconds to think about all the angles
of the requirements. As far as the sales person calling, I dont think its
the best approach to use, but it wont matter that he calls if you use a
standard reponse. About the only information I give out "on the spot" is
"It sounds doable" then respond with "standard response". This is how I
have learned to deal with those situations and keep myself out of hot
water. I have been burned a few times by the customer calling directly
and then quoting my responses to my management, so I no longer give out
any information until I have done proper analysis.
In summary:
If your the type of person who feels compelled to give a detailed answer
(and possibly held to those details) when put on the spot, then absolutely
the sales person did the wrong thing and that sales person should be asked
not to call you during development hours for "on the spot" answers. The
chain of events should be as you described, sales gather requirements, you
analyze requirements, sales informs customer of your findings.
If your the type of person, like me, who uses a standard response when
asked "on the spot" questions which may lead to unintentional
financial/time commitments, then it doesnt matter of the sales person
calls once per hour. The chain of events will still be as you described,
sales gather requirements, you analyze requirements, sales informs
customer of your findings.
This is only my opinion.
Thanks,
CC
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