Can’t agree more with your comment – witnessed it first hand too many times. Probably short burst gigs are easier for fixed fee and larger ones are more suitable for hourly rates.

I always like the idea of fixed-fee, but then I found so many processes, models, and established practices are optimized for “value per hour.” It helps folks do competitive analysis, because they compare hourly rates. I also find that folks tend to have a hard time articulating the end in mind, and it is incredibly difficult to articulate and spec requirements in a way, where what you ask for, is what you get. And to make it worse, many folks simply do not really know what they want, until they see it … and it’s an unfolding process. From that standpoint, the value-play is incredibly tough. But to up-level it, that’s why I think you can distinguish scenarios, and identify some plays are good for value-based, others are better for time and material.