Comments on The Confluent Forms blog: We seek RFPs for Innovation, not Inspiration

Hi Jeremy, I would categorize what you are saying...

2011-01-15T12:45:11.026-05:00

Hi Jeremy,

I would categorize what you are saying as "innovation", not "inspiration". The gripe I'm describing in the article is the companies that really don't have any true intent to award a project, let alone to a new vendor, but are using it as a fishing expedition. They don't have a budget set up, and likely have no intent to hire anyone for anything, but are seeking to get free business consulting through the issued RFP.

Thank you for the comment!
-David

I disagree with the statement that "It is unf...

2011-01-14T17:58:07.425-05:00

I disagree with the statement that "It is unfair of you to put forward a Request for Inspiration". Mind you, I don't agree with any company creating an RFP in order to be inspired but I do think there is a place for vendors to provide inspiration for companies serious enough to invest. The best way I have seen this handled is by putting together neccessary deliverables before you begin work, then validating these prerequisites through a paid Discovery process. Where at the end of the discovery process there is a take away for the client that either leads to a solid go/no-go decision.

This is a good post. As it is generic and could be...

2010-03-02T12:06:51.403-05:00

This is a good post. As it is generic and could be describing a number of "solution" types it is sound advice and provides a nice steer. In the world of digital, specifically social media RFPS, some organisations cannot be anything other than vague. This is because they just don't know what they need. It is difficult for them to be precise. So round one of tenders, usually results in a number of agencies being put through the mill (as your last paragraph describes) but without any return. If this happens, it usually results in the said organisation (having absorbed all the free consultancy and ideas) having a bash themselves...with varying degrees of success. The poor agencies, who expended a lot of time and effort, can only gaze on feeling used and abused. It's a shame there is no defined business ethics for this. Maybe, the default is to charge for the pitch? A test of how serious the organisation is and it would result in some blinding responses.