SSW Update - Do you maintain verbal contact with your client?

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Tech Breakfast - October 2006

21 days to go!

SQL Server 2005: Advanced Indexing Strategies
Friday 6th October 2006
8:00am - 11:00am

In this session we look at a fast-paced collection of indexing tips and tricks based on an already optimised base table structure. How you create your base table - as well as cluster it - has a big impact on that table's performance.

Once the base table structures have been defined and you have to further improve system performance, where do you look and how do you do this?

We will also talk about targeting both the known and finding the unknown performance problems. Once you know where the problems are we'll go through numerous options to improve the performance using indexes.

Tech Breakfast - October 2006

42 Days to go!

Introduction to Microsoft Expression
Friday 27th October 2006

A practical session for the IT Industry exposing attendees to the new Microsoft Expression framework.

Tech Breakfast - Nov 2006

66 Days to go!

SYDNEY: Rules to Successful Projects (Part A & B) - Presented by Adam Cogan
Friday 24th November 2006

What makes a good software development consultancy? What sets one company completely above another? What makes a project completely successful? In this special Sydney session, Adam will look at each of these questions and give you the answers you are looking for!

Employment Opportunities at SSW

Due to the tremendous growth that our business has experienced over the last few months, we are seeking enthusiastic people to join the SSW team.

Our Company is based in Neutral Bay which is one of the most elegant and scenic areas of Sydney. SSW is an Australian owned progressive consulting firm specialising in building, implementing and maintaining Microsoft .NET software applications.

We are currently looking for:

.NET (and OLAP) Developer
IT Marketing Administrator
Office Manager
Project Manager

Tips

Do you know the best way for your customers to register your products? - answered by: Adam Cogan

What is the return/refund policy on SSW software? - answered by: Cameron Shaw

The Cutting Edge

G'Day Developers!

Do you maintain verbal contact with your client?

With the convenience and cost-effectiveness of email, it is tempting to resort to emails for client contact. We sometimes forget that our clients are people just like us who need human interaction to ensure everything is OK. This is why it is essential that you maintain verbal contact before, during and after a project. What does this mean?

Let the client know what to expect in terms of communication,
i.e.
- "The first step is, we send you a release plan to approve. Once approved we can begin work"
- "Every morning expect a 'Morning Goals' email with a list of tasks the developers will be working on that day"
- "Every time a task is done, you will get an email with information about the task such as time taken, screen shots and code snippets"
- "If you need to change the priority of a task, just let us know and we will consider it for inclusion either in this or the next release depending on its importance"
Avoid going more than 3 days without a phone call
If you are put onto an existing project, it is good practice to call the client and introduce yourself. For example, "Hi, I'm Andrew. I'll be taking over from Mark on your project. Mark has filled me in on the specifics and I'm keen to get involved."

If you maintain an open channel of verbal communication with your client, it helps to break down communication barriers, lets the client know that you are friendly and involved, and makes them feel comfortable with you and SSW. More on Rules to Successful Projects...

Cheers until next time,

Adam
SSW Chief Architect and Microsoft Regional Director, Australia

Got a comment for Adam? 6164616d636f67616e407373772e636f6d2e6175

Sydney .NET User Group - The best place to learn .NET for free in Sydney

5 days to go!

Sydney .NET User Group
Wednesday 20th September 2006
5:45pm - 9:00pm
Location: Microsoft, Sydney

DotNetNuke

DotNetNuke is a Web Application Framework ideal for creating and deploying projects such as commercial web sites, corporate intranets and extranets, online publishing portals, and custom vertical applications.

Kusal Wijewantha will be presenting different ways of installing DotNetNuke, introducing key components of portal framework and will also demonstrate how to manage the content using built-in modules.

Atlas

This new web development technology from Microsoft integrates cross-browser client script libraries with the ASP.NET 2.0 server-based development framework.

In addition, "Atlas" offers you the same type of development platform for client-based web pages that ASP.NET offers for server-based pages. And because "Atlas" is an extension of ASP.NET, it is fully integrated with server-based services.

"Atlas" makes it possible to easily take advantage of AJAX techniques on the web and enables you to create ASP.NET pages with a rich, responsive UI and server communication.

Tim Kremer will be presenting a introduction to Microsoft Atlas, including an overview of the framework, worked examples of the new client libraries as well as using the server side libraries to add ajax functionality to your ASP.NET existing applications.

See You There!! | Sorry I can't make it

NRG Solutions & SSW in association with Vic.net Users present: Earning More Per Hour As a Developer

Attend these sessions and learn to market yourself and position your solutions to customers.

Picture of Steve Herzberg Steve Herzberg - Sales Director at NRG Solutions. Steve has worked closely with Microsoft at this year's Code camp and has for the past few years assisted the team at SSW with tailored marketing and sales support. NRG Solutions are a training consulting company with a focus on sales and marketing skills and strategies for IT staff and companies. Steve is regarded as one of Australia's most engaging speakers and will show you how to take the next step in your career as a developer . Clients of NRG Solutions include: ANZ Bank, CGU, Microsoft, SSW, Cricket Australia & Fitness First.

In this introductory workshop, Steve will cover:

How to conduct great client focused sales meetings
Understanding why writing a proposal is often not the best approach to winning a new client
When is the best time to position your solution to a client
Appreciate how and why clients make decisions when buying IT and choosing developers
Understand how to retain and effectively grow business from your clients
Appreciate the power of your non verbal message
Earn more per hour and clearly justify why you emerge the hourly rate that you do

Picture of Adam Cogan

Adam Cogan - Chief Architect at SSW and Microsoft Regional Director. Adam has been developing custom solutions for businesses across a range of industries such as Government, banking, insurance and manufacturing since 1990 for clients such as Microsoft, Quicken, and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. His wealth of experience in the industry and unsurpassed technical knowledge will ensure attendees get the most out of these sessions.

Managing a team of coders can be a tricky experience, especially as most coders like to do things their own way. During this session Adam will go through a list of rules that help make the development process as smooth as possible. These rules govern the creation of specifications and schedules, best methods for testing and fixing bugs and even the employees working conditions.

So come and join Steve and Adam as they take you through "Earning More Per Hour as A Developer"
More on "Earning More Per Hour as a Developer"...

	Sydney Full Day Workshop - $199 (+ GST)
Date:	29th September 2006 - 14 days to go!
Time:	11:00am - 5:00pm
Location:	Microsoft Sydney 1 Epping Rd, North Ryde, Sydney NSW 2113

	Brisbane Full Day Workshop - $199 (+ GST)
Date:	10th October 2006 - 25 days to go!
Time:	11:00am - 5:00pm
Location:	Microsoft Brisbane Level 9, Waterfront Place, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

	Canberra Full Day Workshop - $199 (+GST)
Date:	17th October 2006 - 32 days to go!
Time:	11:00am - 5:00pm
Location:	Microsoft Canberra Level 2, 44 Sydney Avenue, Barton, Canberra ACT 2600

Featured Service: DotNetNuke

The leading CMS solution

DotNetNuke (DNN), is an open source ASP.NET-based content management system used to create easy-to-use, updatable, customizable, and secure content management portals, ideal for creating and deploying projects such as commercial websites, corporate intranets and extranets, online publishing portals, and custom vertical applications.

With a growing community of over 200,000 users, and a dedicated base of programming professionals, SSW is proud to have one of our developers, Kusal Wijewantha as part of the DotNetNuke Development Team.