Ten Critical Success Factors for Successful System Selection Projects


By Jeremy Bolt


1. Have a business case
What are the motivations or benefits anticipated? What is the return on investment?

2. Get the right approvals
If you do not know what or who is required to approve this, find out very quickly.

3. Develop an appropriate project structure
No matter what others say, spend time on this, it will be worth it in the long run.

4. Get buy-in from relevant stakeholders
They will be waiting for the earliest opportunity to say, I told you so.

5. Involve key internal and external stakeholders Involve these people to ensure a successful outcome is in their best interests.

6. Follow a proven methodology
Akin to having a roadmap in a foreign city.

7. Understand and define your business requirements well
These will determine the success or otherwise of the entire exercise.

8. Know what, when and how to negotiate
There are significant cost savings to be made and traps to avoid when you negotiate right.

9. Get a fair contract
The vendor needs to make some profit to, or you will rapidly slide down the priority scale.

10. Ensure proper signoff
Project governance is important. Never more so than during future project reviews.

To ensure your system selection project is successful - you need to carefully consider all of the above ten critical factors.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jeremy Bolt is the founder of System Selection Online. This service provides all the resources and tools needed to enable organizations to select software and systems using their own staff. This saves money, saves time and results in better quality business solutions. For more information please visit http://www.SystemSelectionOnline.com.


More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Management Information:

Related Articles

Creativity Management - Quality from Quantity
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.
Innovation Management - Rigorous data analysis
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.
The Leadership Alignment Model
Some time ago we had the privilege of working with a major UK government department to help them redefine leadership and to reappraise how they develop and encourage leaders. Faced with considerable challenges by the environment in which they operate and by their political masters, this department has decided that leadership is one of the keys to the achievement of the vision laid down by its chief.
Manage Your Time - Save Your Business.
If you work from home, chances are you already know that you're really pulling "double duty". You probably work on your business while doing the laundry, corralling the kids, or fixing dinner.
Steps to Build ISO 9001 Compliant Program
Implementing an ISO 9001 system represents a major effort. However, all of that effort can represent a significant shift for a business - from quantity to quality.
Tales From the Corporate Frontlines: Team Dynamics and Communication
This article relates to the Team Dynamics competency, which evaluates interpersonal communication, cooperation, and productivity between members of a single team, group, or department within your organization. In today's marketplace, in order for organizations to operate efficiently, it is essential that they understand how to create and utilize effective work teams at all levels of the organization.
Profits and Business Success - 5 Profit Traps to Watch Out For
The old saying 'You have to spend money to make money' can be a dangerous one. Every business has it's costs, but not every business owner takes the time to distinguish between what is an essential expense, and what is a 'nice to have' expense.
Innovation Management: The Power of Emotional Attachment
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation.
What Every Manager Should Know About How to Become An Effective Executive
In his book, The Effective Executive, Peter Drucker pointed out that the effective executive is the person who focuses on making a contribution.This focus on the making of a contribution is the key.
Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Senior Management and Directional Change
This article relates to the Senior/Top Level management of an organization, and how a huge vision of directional change translates into the day-to-day operation of the company. AlphaMeasure defines senior management as the team of individuals at the highest level who have the day-to-day responsibilities of operating the organization.
Score the Rainbows Pot of Gold: Become the Boss That No One Wants to Leave
Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.Peter DruckerLadies and gentlemen, the captain has turned on the seat belt sign.
Dont Get Caught With Your PR Down
Why risk the embarassment when with a little basic PR training, you as a business, non-profit or association manager can always be ready for battle?Never again will you fail to do something positive aboutthe behaviors of those important outside audiences ofyours that MOST affect your operation.Never again will you fail to create external stakeholder behavior change leading directly to achieving your managerial objectives.
Building the Trust in Your Employees - 12 Easy Tips
In Stephen Covey's great book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", he talks about the 'emotional bank account', where you have to build a credit in your relationship with the individuals who you work with (and everyone else as well!).If what you do isn't 'trustworthy', then all you have done in your gentle listening and asking great and interested questions to build, is to 'debit' your account.
The Walmart Cult
The CultBecoming a part of the Cult, consists of being recruited a member of the cult, as a person that can be relied on to assume responsibilities and accomplish all or almost all things requested.Depending upon the position you hold and the person that you are attached to the most, any position can be engaging and can be so different from any other experience that you have had prior to Walmart in almost any retail sector that you feel you are being chosen for great things.
Improving Patient Sensitivity in Doctors and Hospital Staff
COMPANY/ORGANIZATIONA South Florida hospital. The CEO of the hospital saw the need to provide exceptional customer service to differentiate itself from the competition and avoid being acquired.
Retaining An Expert -- What Every Business Owner Needs To Know
As an entrepreneur, hiring an expert can be one of the most efficient ways to turbo-charge your business. However, thousands of consultants flood the Information Highway, and each one promises to positively impact your bottom line.
Toxic Bosses
What's everyone's favorite topic around the water cooler? Bad bosses! You know, the ones who make life in the office unbearable? Here are some of the more common varieties you'll find.1.
Across The Interview Table!
Job interviews are easier for the interviewer or the interviewee if you plan and prepare and use proper interviewing techniques. On this page are job interview questions and purpose of each interview question, because there is a purpose behind each and everything that we do and similarly there should be a purpose behind each and every question that we ask in interview.
Recognition: A Quick, Low-cost Way to Motivate Employees
Recognizing good performance through praise or other positive action is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to motivate people. It provides three major benefits:It lets people know that their performance was valued, and increases the likelihood that they will continue to perform well.
Running Successful Meetings - The Key Steps To Getting It Right
We all complain about meetings which are a waste of our time and the truth of the matter is that so many are exactly that. We've also seen the "corridor" meeting that takes place afterwards where it seems the real decisions are taken, or the agreed decisions are overturned.