1. Problem Solving Approach & SalesForce

2. Interacting with your Client Understand the fundamental problem that the client is trying to convey. –Ask questions that will yield an understanding of the process that currently exists and why it needs to be replaced or updated. –You are not looking for the client to agree with you and you are not focused on any specific technology, platform, or solution as part of the “understanding” process. –Have the client elaborate on the current process in terms of people, processes, and time.

3. Interacting with your Client Understand how the client defines improving the process. –Are you trying to reduce inaccuracies due to segmented, disparate data sources? –Is the output of an existing process sufficient but just takes too long to achieve? –Does the output of the system or process require enhancing because the needs of the user have changed?

4. Interacting with your Client How will success be measured? –Make sure you have measurable objectives, not vagaries. “Reduce amount of time that the process takes” is vague. “Centralize the data so that mass customer communication can be accomplished via a single process in less than 45 minutes” is something that can be realistically measured. –Make sure that you have a list of well defined objectives/milestones that you can not only measure against, but you can use to pace your project. –What are the essential needs as opposed to the “nice to have” needs?

5. Interacting with your Client Understand what resources the client can contribute to the project. –Are there one or multiple people that can answer questions, gather data, or provide insight into the existing process/problem? –If the client requires solutions or resources that require money, will they provide funding?

6. Interacting with your Client What is the project timeline? –Is the client willing to break their needs up into phases so that essential needs are addressed right away and “nice to haves” can be dealt with in successive iterations? –If certain needs can only be addressed by the client; such as providing data for the new system, do you have a scheduled date for when those tasks must be completed by the client?

7. Interacting with your Client Create a project overview/contract. –Outline your understanding of the client’s needs. –Specify what will be accomplished and the timeframe for completion. –Include agreed upon measurement criteria. –Summarize everything that you understand from your “analysis” and discussions with the client –Present the client with the overview/contract so that they can make sure your understanding is accurate. –Don’t let technology overshadow the business need/process that you are attempting to address.

8. Introduction to SalesForce Cloud Computing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_DKNwK_ms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_DKNwK_ms SalesForce Overview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r1H7OK8lzY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r1H7OK8lzY SalesForce Foundation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQMOxkR9wGY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQMOxkR9wGY SalesForce 1/1/1 model: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxfzgT0YCwg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxfzgT0YCwg