In-depth research in order to build the "Perfect Program"

1. Programs are tools

1.1. For tools to be effective, they must fulfill their purpose

1.2. Tools that fulfill only part of their purpose, or are difficult to use are quickly tossed aside for tools that can get the job done

2. Causes & Effects

2.1. Programmers do not take the time to learn the true needs of the customer

2.2. The effect is that the customer is not happy and the programmer becomes less valuable to the company; it wouldn't take much for another programmer to "win them over."

3. How classified

3.1. This is not a problem with a programmer's ability to write the functions needed into the program; so it wouldn't be classified as a programming problem

3.2. I would classify it as a marketing problem; marketing the right product at the right price is vital to success, according to my previous marketing professor, Professor Manzer.

4. Many programmers don't find researching company's interesting. I concede that researching company's activities and needs can be time-consuming and may not be interesting to the programmer

4.1. Keeping the perspective that the goal is not to fascinate ourselves, but to fascinate our buyer will make the research more interesting in that it is fascinating to find solutions to problems and needs.

5. Many people in companies have a difficult time transitioning to new software

5.1. If users find the new software very useful it will lessen their resistance to change and possibly even get them excited about it.

6. Some may feel that it is not cost-effective to research the needs of companies, but I feel that it is not cost-effective to fail to do so.

6.1. Meeting the needs of people is a fundamental principle of marketing; failing to do so causes customers to seek someone else who will

6.2. Selling inferior products may suffice during times when you are the only company offering your product, but when another company challenges your market, your lack of preparation will cause them to possibly drive you out of business

6.3. Meeting the needs of your customers causes them to seek you out for other types of products; they will feel that because you pay so much attention to detail, you will do so with other products as well

7. I personally am dealing with programs in my industry that are difficult to use, do not fulfill our needs completely and are fragmented, causing us to utilize several programs to meet the needs that one program should meet

8. Some may feel that writing the perfect program would be like shooting oneself in the foot (companies would no longer need us if all their needs were met)

8.1. This seems like a logical argument, but given the nature of technology, and that it is constantly changing, the need for new programs will most-likely never cease.

8.2. Programs tend to need maintenance on a regular basis, so servicing them is also a source of revenue

8.3. The "perfect" program for a company will be much more valuable to the company, therefore they would be willing to pay more for it.

9. Were I work, we have gone through multiple programming changes and each new program has some new feature that is better than the last, but then they always lack some feature that the previous program had

9.1. In effect you must choose which program meets your needs "more", but you are always left frustrated and wanting.

9.2. Pulling reports for example one usually is missing some vital piece of information and the person then has to pull another report which is a time-waster