This site has been defunct since 2005.
It remains here as a reminder of the “cutting edge” in 2003.
Software Systems Consulting
When it comes to any software system, try to:
- Draw up a prioritised list of requirements, differentiating clearly between needs and wants.
- Be skeptical of the sales pitch & discard, with extreme prejudice, any proposals that don't meet all of the needs.
- Keep an open mind about novel solutions.
- Get independent advice early.
Not everyone is conversant with the wide variety of technologies that might productively and cost-effectively be deployed in a commercial setting. They should not be expected to be. They should not pretend to be. We have seen organisations spend tens, even hundreds, of thousands of euro unnecessarily.
We would also remark that it's incredibly illuminating to physically separate generic corporate blurb from the specifics of any proposal, since it is not at all uncommon for proposals to be padded with disproportionate quantities of corporate information.
Quick Case Study
We observed an organisation ignore their advisors and choose the most expensive system on offer from a shortlist of proposals. Two years (and a lot of money) later, they were still using the legacy system — the expensive new system simply didn't work.
