Dseign Cost

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I am a rookie when it comes to custom database design. I am sorry for posting this question here as I know it has nothing to do with Access, but people here design for a living and I cannot think of a better group to ask for advice.

I was approached by my school disctrict to design a database for them to use to track discipline problems. Anyone have ANY idea how much to charge for a custom design? It would be on a network and there are about 200 teachers, and 10 administrators and counselors who would use this.

Again, I appologize for placing this question here, please do not be offended.
 
Ripper said:
I am a rookie when it comes to custom database design. I am sorry for posting this question here as I know it has nothing to do with Access, but people here design for a living and I cannot think of a better group to ask for advice.

I was approached by my school disctrict to design a database for them to use to track discipline problems. Anyone have ANY idea how much to charge for a custom design? It would be on a network and there are about 200 teachers, and 10 administrators and counselors who would use this
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Well, this is a little like asking "how long is a piece of rope". The cost of the database will depend on a) how complex it is, b) how long it takes you to design it, and c) how much the district is willing to pay.

FWIW I try to avoid fixed price bids, especially when (as appears to be the case here) the specifications are unclear and will require interaction with the users to clarify them. There are project estimation tools but they require a lot more input and even at that aren't very accurate.

I'd suggest negotiating a per-hour price, with checkpoints (with user approval and payment at each checkpoint). But you may have to put in several hours of skull sweat just specifying what those checkpoints might be!

Good luck!
 
The real problem is often that management tries to make a estimate of the
time.

the WORST thing a developer can do is accept some time frame that ANOTHER
person tells YOU.

Only YOU know how fast you can develop.

On a typical development team, the productivity will vary by as much as 10
times.

That means one guy can do in 3 weeks what another person will take 30.

That means your estimate of time to completing can be 4.5 weeks to 52 weeks
(1 month, or a year?).

So, the only reliable estimate is one made BY YOU!

Further more, you need to write out a functional spec. This is simply a
English narrative of what the product will do. You also should consider
throwing in some screen designs (use your favorite drawing
program...especially one that comes with pre-built widgets you can place on
the screen. (you MUST use something that lets you work at least as fast as
drawing on paper).

Once you got this functional spec, you THEN can start the estimating
process.

You can read about doing this, and WHY you should do this here:


So, if you ask developer a, he might be able to do the project in 4 weeks
(and, that is fair and honest answer).

If you ask developer B, he might be able to the project in 15 weeks (and,
that is a fair and honest answer).

Also, if any estimate breaks down parts the of development process into
days...you need to throw it out. The finer you can break down the parts, and
make a estimate for each part..the better you are off. The estimate needs to
be broken down by hours for each task.

You next question at this point is:

Well, golly, if I design the thing..then yes..I can make a good
estimate!

So, writing out on paper what the system has to do FORCES you to do a lot of
design work first.

Further, you don't mention what is the skill level of the developers (and,
also..what tools?). With a possible 200 users..are you talking about a 100%
web based system here?

How many different data entry screens do you need? (25, or 150?).

So, you got to start breaking this down into parts and pieces. You don't
have to design the whole thing, but you better come up with some screen
mockups, or something..as you have to have SOME idea as the number of
screens involved.

It is kind of like building a house. Until you have SOME idea as to the
number of bedrooms, and the kinds of finishing and how large they will
be...you can't really come up with a good estimate.
 
Thanks Albert and John. I don't know the actual specs of the network based database is yet, but I know what they want it to do. I'll sit down and count forms, reports, queries, etc and try to see the size. It seems like I need to design it to see how long it will take and then charge for it. <SIGH> This is my first venture into custom databasing, but I am interrested in doing this in my "off" summer months.

I say "off" because I do have 2 boys, 3 and 1 1/2, who eat up LARGE portions of my time. I wouldn't trade it for the world though.
 
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