TechEssence.info

Whether we want to admit it or not, none of us is completely objective when it comes to choosing technology, or anything else for that matter. We attempt to collect and analyze an unbiased portrayal of the facts, but there are always outside influences which affect and shape our decisions. While carefully researched recommendations by respected publications go a long way to helping us with our decisions, one arresting tale from a colleague about terrible customer service and frequent down-time will send most of us into a 180° spin. How can we make solid decisions about technology for our organizations? One way is to keep in mind some common “soft spots” that people have when making these choices.

The IT department has worked with COBOL in the past and would LOVE to use it again
First, let me say that it is always important to consider your existing technology skill set when embarking on a new project. That being said, technology should never be chosen for technology’s sake. It is a fact that your technology department will have an established skill set which they feel comfortable working with, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t explore other options. Your foremost concerns need to be about the features and functionality available with various technologies, as well as your business and functional requirements. Can the technology meet the needs of the organization? Be wary of outdated and outmoded technologies and check that the chosen technology set will be viable and supported a few years from now. It is always better to train someone up on a new but established technology than to choose a solution solely to fit someone’s existing skills. This is an opportunity for growth. Be sure to work with your technologists so that they understand that they’ll be expanding their skill set and getting the training that they need.

They sure do have snazzy marketing!
We’ve all been drawn in at one time or another by slick glossy pages or that super-nice salesperson who **really cared** about our project. But, just like buying a house or a car, you really need to look under the hood and make sure there are no cracks in the foundation. Recruit people from your organization who are knowledgeable about the technology you will be selecting. Choose to be methodical about your selection process so that you cover all your bases. Research, read case studies, test demos, speak to references, and perform comparisons. By creating grids and checklists of features which you fill out yourself, you aren’t comparing apples to oranges, and there’s less opportunity for people to shine apples!

Your boss heard about it at a conference
This can also be read as: your boss read about it in a magazine, heard about it on the train, it came to him/her in a dream. So your boss has come to you and said that he or she has heard that Acme Software Co. has a widget which will change lead into gold and has instructed you to call them and “get us that!” How do you tell your boss about other options without seeming to diminish or devalue their discovery? This requires tact, and a bit of treading softly. First, acknowledge their input, be enthusiastic about your assignment, and importantly – do what you were told. Contact the company and acquire information, but also privately suggest to your boss that there are actually other companies that make widgets which change lead into gold. Volunteer to make him/her even more well-informed by expanding the work you’re doing to investigating into other options – at his/her request, of course!

Your friend told you it was 'da bomb!
We all have a soft spot for anecdotal evidence. It is in our nature to accept a vivid retelling by someone we know over raw data from an impersonal source. But when it comes to choosing a technology solution, anecdotal evidence does not present us with a comprehensive review of the software, its features, its functionality, or the viability of the company. It also does not provide us with a profile of the technology which has been matched up against our organization’s needs. We must keep in mind that our friends, while intelligent and talented, are not in our unique situation, and that they represent only one installation of the software.

It’s expensive, it’s cheap, it’s free
It’s easy to assume that because a product is the most expensive, it must be better than its competition. But when it comes to technology, this is a false assumption. In fact, some of the best software available is completely free. There are a great many factors to consider when evaluating a technology solution, don’t take price alone as an indicator of value.

Similarly, many of us who are on a budget are always on the lookout for a bargain. But, when choosing a technology solution, this is not always the best idea. Don’t be shortsighted; consider the total cost of ownership. A product lacking in functionality or usability can cost you dearly in the end.

With today’s proliferation of free technology available, it may seem simple to say, hey, why not! But again, price is not an accurate reflection of quality. And making a wrong choice because of it can set back an organization significantly in terms of resource costs in time and energy to retrain staff on another product, recreate data, and overcome bad feelings developed about the technology.

By keeping these and other common influencers in mind, hopefully we can make sober choices when selecting technology for our organizations.