Yesterday's meeting in Denver was a Technology support effort for a current partnership arranged by Sales and Marketing. Our initiative is to exploit utilize our partner's services while they do the same with ours. This meeting was about them using our technology.
Did I mention that this business relationship was built by Sales and Marketing?
As in, the only knowledge of our products and services was from salesmen.
It was an interesting meeting and it brought to mind an ancient anecdote about The History of Sales and Technology.
Cave Salesman: Hey, what's the deliverable on one of those new clubs?Cave Techguy: Two weeks for the standard model. Three to five for customized models.
Cave Salesman: Two weeks?! No way. It's only a club.
Cave Techguy: It's only a club? Look, I've got to locate an appropriate tree, chop it down, cut off an appropriate limb, shape it, fire harden it...
Cave Salesman: Well I already sold it and delivery is next Tuesday.
Cave Techguy: I told you - it takes at least two weeks!
Cave Salesman: I don't see why. It's only a club.
Things worked out well once we clarified a bit of what we can and can't do.
Been there and have had that meeting except it ended with the sales dude/guy/person saying: "It was my job to sell it nows it's your job to make it work."
Classic. I have to do the same thing on a daily basis where I work. My sales team is a bunch of wankers.
Wow, I deal with that meeting at least once a week. I thought I was the only one in that level of hell.
We are going through that right now too, they expect us to set up and run all new parts in 1 week time.
And then we are to walk on water
Heh. You're Jimbert :-)