Thread: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
View Single Post
  #10   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-06-2002, 23:32
archiver archiver is offline
Forum Archival System
#0047 (ChiefDelphi)
  
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Pontiac, MI
Posts: 21,214
archiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond repute
Yes, and it's not just for getting picked
Posted by Andy Baker.

Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 8/8/2000 3:40 PM MST


In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!! posted by Andy Grady on 8/6/2000 9:04 AM MST:




: Question 8/6/00: Since the forming of alliances, teams have been shopping around their robots by using pamphlets, signs, websites, etc... Do you think that these methods actually help a teams chances in getting picked?

To give an answer to your question... maybe. The chance of a picking team giving a well-marketed team a look justifies this process of teams selling themselves.

But, that's not all. This is great for other things also:
1. If a team 'sells itself', then judges might get sold also, and awards could be had.
2. This is great practice for business... at least the marketing side of things. Just like a good company, a FIRST team needs a good marketing plan.
3. This is good practice for the communication of designs even within companies. Whether your working on a patent, or a simple solution to a problem, you still need to present your idea in a way that 'markets' it to others.... you still gotta sell it. Sure, the design should stand up for itself, but people are too busy to simply come over to your desk and say 'Hey, Andy, what are you working on?' You gotta toot your own horn to get things noticed.
4. The marketing side of things gives students more to do and another chance to be creative. Last year, we had one student in charge of Marketing. He led a team of people that were intent on selling our team to others. This marketing team had to be honest and tactful with how they presented themselves to others... and they did a good job.
5. This is fun... at least I think so. I enjoy seeing what other teams come up with to market their team.

Sure, listening to other teams market themselves to you (if your team is highly ranked) takes some time, but it is better than being in the position of trying to get picked. We've been on both sides, and being the highly ranked team is much better.

Andy B.


__________________
This message was archived from an earlier forum system. Some information may have been left out. Start new discussion in the current forums, and refer back to these threads when necessary.