[Contractors] joint marketdevelopment

[Marc Vloemans]

Hi robert,

Sorry for this late reply. Times are hectic around here.

The group OpenGeoGroep is formally launched. We have our first contract with government and are learning by doing the various points you raise.
Although everyone has his/her own shop to care for, we managed to split the project in various parts, thanks to the loose coupling of the geo-stack. The ones interested could pitch with an estimate. Special items to pitch for is the overall project management.

We worked out an internal hourly rate and an external rate. This way we are able to save some money for the group for rainy days and other promotional activities. The entrance fee is kept relatively low (around 500 dollars annually).

As sales activity incurrs cost (time spent on the process bij mostly me, whereas the result is uncertain), but we have not yet decided how my hours are paid for...

The formation of the group has costed me quite some time over the last two years. First finding the right entities interested to start something like that with, secondly having them meet around a table, thirdly getting them formally organised. Mind you, each of us is also able to pitch independantly, so internal rules of the game have to set them selves along the way forward.

But first of all I have started 3 years ago to promote further professionalisation of the sector: through presentations, columns and articles and lobby.
A spin ou/off was me setting up with others the first overall Dutch Open SOurce branche club (also new in the world). I am now Chairman of this club (including the likes of SUN Microsystems, integrators, SME's and individuals)

Hope this will do for the moment. Feel free to ask and comment!
cheers Marc 

Met vriendelijke groet,

Marc Vloemans
Algemeen nr 030 214 2081
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From: Robert Hollingsworth [mailto:reh2 at prodigy.net]
To: Frank Warmerdam [mailto:warmerdam at pobox.com], Marc Vloemans [mailto:marcvloemans at b3partners.nl]
Cc: contractors at lists.osgeo.org
Sent: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:20:16 +0100
Subject: Re: [Contractors] joint marketdevelopment



 Marc,
I'd be interested in hearing more of how your group
of individuals and companies presents itself as a
single entity.  How do the separate players within
this group decide who will take on a particular 
project?  I guess if plates are laden over there,
there's enough work to go around?

I'd be interested in seeing such a "virtual company"
form from participants in N. America (to the extent
that it really matters WHERE people are, because
virtual companies can conduct business in a
"virtual office"?)

I don't sense that the big institutional end-users in
the US are thinking open-source to the extent
that clients outside the US are.  And is open-source
on the radar of large integrators in the US?

Robert



          
... ... In the Netherlands I have co-initiated a group of individual specialists and companies who will be able to contract as a single entity. ...

... With the booming market in my environment the plates are laden. ... This seems to be the case in The Netherlands, where large integrators are invited for the bigger tenders. Once won, they subcontract most of the technical work to the small OS GIS contractors for a pittance. ...



  
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