Re: FN-FORUM purchase order

date posted 22nd January 2003 15:07

Quoting Dedric [EMAIL REMOVED]

> So far I've always been working based on verbal agreement with clients
> however
> seems like now is the time to get formal...I I'll need to provide the
> client
> with a purchase order (for software development).

Either I'm missing something or this is slightly upside down.

The client should provide you with a purchase order in whatever format they
normally produce purchase orders using their standard doc and their standard
ref generated from sage or whatever.

But I suspect that you knew that already (-: What gets written on the PO
is "Software development as per specification document ABC123"

The important bit therefore is the specification document, this needs to
define as clearly and unambiguously as possible what it is that you are going
to provide. Ideally you want a list of items that you can go down saying "does
this, does this, does this, does this that's the lot - where's the cheque?"

The list of items will probably, in turn, relate to more detailed descriptions.

How do you get a decent spec? Well writing a decent spec in the first place is
a often a chargeable activity...

James Murphy
Consett, County Durham.