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Conference 7.286::digital

Title:The Digital way of working
Moderator:QUARK::LIONELON
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5321
Total number of notes:139771

2944.0. "pre-sales or consult make a choice ?" by WELLIN::GRAHAM (Hopelessly Hopeful ! ) Thu Mar 17 1994 19:54

    I work in Digital Consulting (In a technology service centre) in the
    UK.  About 10 days ago each one of us was phoned by our managers asking
    us to make a decision as to whether we wanted to stay in DS and do
    consulting, i.e paid for work or to transfer to a new pre-sales unit
    being created.  Naturally there were many questions asked about this
    new unit, none (yes none) of which could be answered. \no could say who
    would manage the unit, how one would be measured, career sructure etc
    etc.  The implication was that if enough people do not move voluntarily
    to pre-sales (effectively transfrerring to the sales function) then
    individuals would be nominated, i.e DS must lose heads.  
    
    Is this new pre-sales unit structure happening elsewhere ?  the few
    sales people and customers that I have spoken to on this think that our
    DS consultants deliver a better service because they currently deliver
    pre and post sales work.
    
    This is especially confusing since at the ned of Q2 we were all told
    that consulting was doing well, making money etc (in fact we turned
    over 500K business away in our unit this fiscal because we don't have
    enough people) but only last week a mail came down saying that the
    business can not support the headcount !  The impression from way down
    the line is that some mega political battles are raging between
    UK/Europe/US/Sales/DS.
    
    	Regards,
    		Dave
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2944.1Digital-France tooLOVADA::SCHERRERPatrick - Corp Strategic AlliancesThu Mar 17 1994 19:573
    As far as I know, this happened also within Digital France some months
    ago.
    Patrick
2944.2any logic to it ?WELLIN::GRAHAMHopelessly Hopeful ! Thu Mar 17 1994 20:0110
    Patrick,
    
    	do you know anything about the rationale behind this ?  is it
    simply so that the cost of pre-sales can be more closely accounted for
    ?  In this entrepreneurial world what is to stop the account teams
    selling their pre-sales people to customers to earn revenue rather than
    use DS ?
    
    	Regards,
    		Dave
2944.3Selling is done through salesLOVADA::SCHERRERPatrick - Corp Strategic AlliancesThu Mar 17 1994 21:116
    My understanding, but I can be wrong, is that only sales "sell",
    Digital services implements. Digital consulting "works very closely
    with sales".
    Any additional clarifications are welcome.
    
    Patrick
2944.4DEMOAX::GINGERRon GingerThu Mar 17 1994 22:4426
    Same thing is hapening here, at least in the New England area.
    
    It really bothers me to see it happen. We always go all or nothing,
    never seem to be able to make fine adjustments.
    
    I had a very clear experience with a major customer.
    
    We were bidding to major projects at about the same time. When they
    reached a decision, thay called us in and explained. One project we
    got, and was specifically told it was because I had worked closely
    with them all thru the sale, and they had confidence I would help them
    with the install. The other project we refused to identify our delivery
    people until we got an order. IBM got that one, because they put a
    pre-sales guy on the job from day one of the bidders conference.
    
    I think the right model is to have a mix of pre-sales and consulting.
    In many deals the customer will want the person involved through the
    whole process.
    
    Now that sales has a dedicated group under their control again, you can
    bet they will not give a minute up to do delivery, and of course the
    delivery group, not having a sales budget, wont comit a minute of help
    until the order is booked.
    
    Yet again we find a way to shoot our leg off, to satisfy another
    re-organization.
2944.5Answers from Digital-NYO WWW serverLOVADA::SCHERRERPatrick - Corp Strategic AlliancesFri Mar 18 1994 07:36207
                      Opportunity to Become a Sales Rep



Memo from Scott Roeth and Max Mayer

This is to announce an exciting new program opening Sales positions,
exclusively for Sales Support individuals. For a Sales Support person who's
ever thought of joining the Sales profession, this program will pave the way! 

The goals of the program are to increase account coverage and Sales
technical excellence by moving 150 Sales Support Consultants to direct
Sales positions. These Sales Support people will come from all PSCs;
Industry, Territory, Competency and Government. 

It is important to note that this program will select those candidates best
suited for careers in selling. Therefore, we will recruit and select all qualified
Sales Support individuals interested in a sales career. The selected
candidates will become the Sales Specialist on opportunities in their
technical disciplines. 

We request your leadership to support this program. PSC Managers are
requested to advertise the program to all Sales Support individuals,
encourage them to apply and provide recommendations to Sales
Management. Sales District Managers are requested to ask their Branch
Managers to interview and hire the new Sales Specialists. RMC Operation
Managers are responsible for posting of the requisitions and defining the
breakout by Branch and specialty. 

When you talk to Sales Support Consultants tell them that NOW is an
excellent time to join DIGITAL SALES. Alpha is on its up-ramp, new
applications are coming on line, the opportunity to win and earn BIG
incentive checks is REAL. 

Attached is a Q&A to assist you in answering questions. This program has
been approved by the U.S. Management Team. Implementation will
commence January 17, 1994. If you would like to receive a copy of a set of
slides that can be used in explaining the program, please contact Bill
Horzempa @MKO or MKOTS3::HORZEMPA. 


                           QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR 
                  MOVEMENT OF 150 SALES SUPPORT CONSULTANTS TO 
                           SALES SPECIALIST POSITIONS


1.    What are the goals of the program?  

      The goals of the program are to increase account coverage through 
      additional Sales Representatives and increase Sales technical 
      excellence.

2.    Who is eligible for the program?

      All Sales Support individuals in Territory, Industry, and Government 
      PSCs.

3.    What technical skills are especially needed?

      While all individuals with technical skills are encouraged to apply, 
      we strongly need individuals with expertise in:

            Workstations                 PCs
            Storage                      VIPs
            Networks                     POLYCENTER
            Workgroup                    Information Management
            CASE                         TP
            UNIX                         Industry Applications

4.    Why should a Sales Support individual apply for one of the new Sales 
      positions?

      -  For individuals wanting a career in Sales this is an excellent 
         program to initiate the change
      -  With the incentive compensation plan there is the opportunity for 
         increased earnings
      -  Sales Support individuals often state that they lead many Sales 
         opportunities when Sales Representatives are over extended.  This 
         move will allow them to be rewarded for their selling effort.

5.    What will the new Sales Specialist be coded and will they be on a 
      budget?

      The new Product Sales Specialist will become "S" coded and they will 
      be on a budget after completing their training, while budget will be 
      determined locally the recommendation is $150-200K per quarter, 
      pro-rated after completion of training.

      An Industry Sales Specialist will be "S" coded and assume an 
      appropriate pro-rated budget after completion of training.

6.    Who will receive credit for Sales into existing accounts?

      The Sales Specialists will be shadow booked to the Account Sales 
      Managers.

7.    Will the new Sales Specialists be on the new Sales Incentive 
      Compensation Plan?

      Yes, the Sales Specialists will be on the Incentive Compensation Plan.  
      After completion of their training they will be on a 90 day 
      recoverable draw.

8.    What will the job level be of the new Sales Specialists?

      The new Sales job level will be determined by the Branch Sales Manager 
      based upon an individual's experience.  The following are recommended 
      guidelines:

      -  Consultant I, II and III with prior Sales experience to Sales 
         Exec. I
      -  Consultant I, II and III with no Sales experience to Sales Rep III
      -  Specialists I - IV to Sales Rep I or II

9.    Will there be training for the new Sales Specialists?

      Yes, there will be a 30 day training period including 2 weeks of 
      formal training and 2 weeks of self study/mentoring.  Sales Training 
      will be publishing the schedule.

10.   As a Sales Specialists I will need to maintain my technical skills.  
      Will I be able to attend technical courses?

      Yes, most of the training programs that Sales Support participates in 
      will be available to the new Sales Representatives.  This includes:  
      EY Classes, Symposiums and CBIs.

11.   Who will be the Sales Specialist's Manager?

      The Industry Sales Representatives will report to an appropriate Sales 
      Branch Manager.  For product areas such as Workstations and PCs that 
      currently have a dedicated Regional Sales Manager, the new Sales 
      Representatives will report to that manager.  For the software 
      positions, that do not have a focused manager, the RMCs will be hiring 
      Sales Managers as appropriate.

12.   Are the new Sales Representatives eligible for Sales Recognition 
      Programs?

      The current guidelines for participation in Sales Recognition programs 
      will be used.  Due to their joining Sales late in the year, the new 
      Sales Representatives will not be eligible for many of the FY94 Sales 
      programs.  To compensate for this we are determining how to bridge an 
      individual's performance in Digital Consulting, with their selling 
      performance for FY94 for recognition, and will be communicating the 
      plan as soon as possible.

13.   Who will post the requisitions and what are the specific jobs and 
      locations?

      The requisitions will be posted by the RMC Operations Managers, and 
      will include details on the job and location.  The follow lists the 
      number of positions by RMC and the name of the RMC Operations Manager.

                                                          NUMBER OF SALES
      RMC               RMC OPERATIONS MANAGER        REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS
      
      Northeast              Don Armagnac                     29
      Mid Atlantic           Robin Sloan                      21
      Central                Randy James                      32
      South                  Rick Valenzi                     23
      Western                Art Clark                        47
      
14.   How does Sales Compensation work?

      The FY94 Plan is based on pay commensurate with meeting and/or 
      exceeding goals.  Sales Individuals and Sales Managers are rewarded 
      for their performance through:
      -    An annual "Sales Salary" representing compensation for total job     
  
           performance.
      -    "Performance Incentives" and "Over Achievement Incentives" for 
           meeting and exceeding 100% of their budget.
      -    "Bonuses" offering rewards focused on specific objectives, for    
           example, selected services or products.

      "Sales Salary" is paid on a weekly basis and is compensation for 
      total job performance.  It is a percentage of a Sales person's total 
      Target Earnings, typically 70%, 80% or 90%, depending on Sales 
      Assignment.

      "Performance Incentives" are incremental dollars based on a person's 
      year-to-date achievement of budget and are paid monthly to Sales 
      people as they achieve 1% to 100% of their annual budget.

      "Over Achievement Incentives": are paid to Sales people for 
      performance above 100% of their annual budget.  The value of the Over 
      Achievement Incentive is a multiple of the Performance Incentive, 
      paid to the individual monthly.

      "Bonuses" could be offered for the sale of targeted products, 
      services, new accounts, etc. They are unique to particular Sales 
      Assignments and may be independent of the Performance and Over 
      Achievement Incentives.

15.   What process will be used to fill these Sales positions?

      Each RMC will be allocated a number of slots based upon the current 
      number of Sales Support personnel in PSC's that are in closest 
      alignment with the RMCs.  The Regional Sales VP in conjunction with 
      geographical Recruiting/HR support will post requisitions and manage 
      the staffing process.




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2944.6The Brebach viewTRUCKS::WINWOODA Legend is AfootFri Mar 18 1994 08:0019
    Gresham Brebach gave a talk in Basinstoke (UK) recently in which he
    described how HE wanted Digital consulting to work on bids and 
    delivery.  The following is based on my recall so apologies if
    errors have crept in.
    
    GB sees some pre-sales staff in the Sales accounts assisting with
    technical qualification.  Once the account has a sniff of a project
    it will call the Professional Service Centre (PSC) for support.
    That PSC will work with the account using its own pre-sales pot
    of money and qualify plus deliver the project.  The essential
    point being that we, "Sell what we do and do what we sell".  No
    more projects won and 'thrown over the wall' to be delivered.
    If you propose as Bid manager, you deliver as Delivery manager.
    
    The way it was explained it was very simple and sounded good common
    sense to me.  I have to resist my somewhat cynical nature and
    reflect on the spin that the 'Marching Band' will impose on it!
    
    Calvin 
2944.7It's WorldwideNYOS02::DILLARDHappiness is a 1300 with one end to go.Fri Mar 18 1994 22:5537
    This is happening world wide.  At the direction of Gresh Brebach and Ed
    Lucente, sales support is moving (has already in the US) back into
    sales.  This does NOT mean that the people are being recoded as sales. 
    The program for the 150 'sales specialists' position in the US is
    independent of the move.
    
    Not being privy to SLT discussions I can only report what has been said
    about the reasons for the move.  Gresh has said that this will allow
    Digital Consulting to focus on billable business.  Ed has said that
    this will allow sales to focus and allign the people as necessary to
    drive the business.
    
    Scott Roeth (US Sales  VP) has emphasised the need for balance and 
    that there will be occaisions when the rigth thing for the cutomer will
    be to have SS continue on an engagement into billable consulting.  I am
    certain thaere have been cases where sales had no interest in allowing
    this, but I have also experienced cases where  sales could not be
    prevented (by me) from agreeing to sell the help of their sales support
    person.
    
    The move of DC to project vs. residency business will undoubtedly
    create many opportunities for SS to get hands on with billable work.
    
    In the US the standard way of determining where people will be is based
    on the cost center they are in.  If they are in a SS cost center they
    will be moved with SS to sales.  There is an exception procedure to
    address the needs of people who either are in SS and want to stay in DC
    or are in delivery and want to move to SS.  This may be different in
    other countries.
    
    Unfortunately a lot of the details are not yet set and won't be for a
    few weeks.  In the US most of the sales DMs are not announced and the
    SS UMs are not announced either.  This should be done in the next few
    weeks.
    
    Peter Dillard
    SS UM NYC
2944.8as clear as mud then ?WELLIN::GRAHAMHopelessly Hopeful ! Mon Mar 21 1994 19:549
    thanks for the replies.  In the UK the SS people will be part of the
    Sales organisation, although what level, title, goaling is not yet
    defined.  They will be geography based, i.e work for a branch, maybe
    exclusively to one industry or across them  - don't have to wear blue
    suits with white shirts yet though - sales have a set ratio of sales
    people to support people which I assume means that they have done on
    business forecasts etc etc !
    
    	Dave
2944.9"industry-standard"BOSDCC::CHERSONthe door goes on the rightTue Mar 22 1994 11:549
    The model that Digital Consulting is adopting and will implement is
    similar or identical to the structure that all the large consulting
    companies have.  I've had a close up look at one of them, and can
    confirm this.  
    
    Will we in DC never be involved in pre-sales/sales support?  Don't bet
    on it because the borders are intentionally fuzzy everywhere.
    
    /d.c.