Re: How do I approach this?

Whoa, this is getting heavy guys!!!

Without reading back these threads, let me clarify a couple of
points......and sorry for not doing so sooner.

Our small department started providing technical support over the telephone
some months ago. At that time, and it is still so as I write this message,
the method of logging such calls was on a simple excel spread***.

We had a dept. meeting in which one of our managers made an 'off-the-cuff
comment' that it could really do to be something like an sql database. I
piped up that I could probably do something like that.......and nothing more
was said.

I went away and worked on this at home. At some time later I informed the
manager that I was close to having something ready, at which point he said
he didn't think that I was serious (at the meeting) when I said I could do
something!!

The helpdesk has since grown in calls and the company has decided that they
would grow this function in resource (ie. manpower) and provide support for
more services.

My intention during development was that we (the dept.) would run the
database under MSDE on one of the dept's PC's. I was told that it would be
better on the corporate sql server and this seemed appropriate. At this
point my manager asked me to liaise with the IT development manager, which I
did. I provided him with a copy of the sql database that I had been using
for development and he has since put it onto the sql server for me to use.
He also provided a dll which retrieves the connection string from the server
so that, should it be moved, then the app would not need to be modified!!

This week I demo'd the app. by installing it onto my managers laptop, and
was asked if I would mind making some minor changes/additions, which I have
now done. I am yet to provide a final copy and so it is not yet being used.

I think I have now provided all of the background.

Does this new or additional information change anyone's viewpoint?

Thanks to all of you.

Best wishes, Phil


"Phil" <Phil@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ddiqlc$pg7$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>I value of all your views and response's, thanks.
>
> Just for additional info. I am in the UK. The 'app' was written on my own
> laptop using my VS.Net s/w.
>
> My primary interest in doing this was to use it as a tool to possibly gain
> employment 'in the industry'. Hence my request to have some sort of
> acknowledgement in my personnel file, or perhaps even a separate
> company-headed letter detailing the specifics and its benefits to the
> company.
>
> I feel that I should be able to request/expect this WITHOUT having to
> provide the source code. Please be aware that, at this stage, I have not
> informed my boss of this concern and it is very possible that he may fully
> understand. I was really just wondering if anyone reading this had been in
> a similar position and how they tackled the whole thing.
>
> Please continue with your comments and respond back. There must be (or
> will be) many more people in a similar position.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Phil
>
> "Steven Wilmot" <steven-news@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:eoxZiR2nFHA.3828@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>> "Phil" <Phil@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:ddgf58$fca$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>> [...]
>>
>>>
>>> I am not employed as a programmer/developer and my contract mentions
>>> nothing about this. I have developed the app. in my own time at home,
>>> with
>>> the exception of some limited testing within our intranet (probably 98%
>>> at
>>> home).
>>>
>>> Now, I have verbally agreed to allow use of this app. with an
>>> understanding that the effort will be acknowledged in my personnel file.
>>> I
>>> am happy with this!! However, I am concerned as my boss made a comment
>>> recently regarding the source code. I do not feel that I should be
>>> providing this but do not know how to broach my concern.
>>>
>>> What do you guys think about all of this??????
>>>
>>> Phil
>>
>> My personal view on this (I'm not answering this from a legal or
>> authoratitive point of view) is that you are talking about an application
>> fully written by you in your own time at home.
>>
>> If your company feels that such an application is so valuable, then it
>> should do one of the following:
>> i) Discuss with you the possibility of purchasing the source code from
>> you, or licensing the product's use
>> ii) Realise that it is currently using the software for free, and that
>> you would be within your rights to request that they stop using it.
>> iii) COme to some other compromise agreement.
>>
>> S.
>>
>>
>>
>
>


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