By Brad Powell
From the time we take our first quiz in school, we learn that success often requires us to come up with the right answer.
Sometimes, however, it's not about the answer. Instead, success can depend on asking the right question.
That is certainly the case when it comes time to choose a technology partner for your next development project. It is a crucial decision, determining which company will be working side by side with yours for an extended period of time, building systems that your customers and staff will depend on well beyond the development period.
To make the right choice, you need to ask good questions. To help you do that, I've listed five key questions for potential technology partners — the kinds of questions I hope a potential client will ask me before we start work together:
From the time we take our first quiz in school, we learn that success often requires us to come up with the right answer.
Sometimes, however, it's not about the answer. Instead, success can depend on asking the right question.
That is certainly the case when it comes time to choose a technology partner for your next development project. It is a crucial decision, determining which company will be working side by side with yours for an extended period of time, building systems that your customers and staff will depend on well beyond the development period.
To make the right choice, you need to ask good questions. To help you do that, I've listed five key questions for potential technology partners — the kinds of questions I hope a potential client will ask me before we start work together:
By Brad Powell
The official deadline to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act passed last week, but the real deadline day has not yet arrived -- and it's unclear when it will.
That's because the Obama administration announced at the end of March that it would grant an extension to people who are having trouble securing health care through the federal marketplace. There is plenty of debate about the politics behind this announcement, but from the perspective of a technology company like Axiaware, it is clear that this news means the ACA and healthcare.gov are still experiencing technical difficulties.
And this high-profile, massive IT project, while painful for many, can provide some valuable insights into the realities of any IT project.
The official deadline to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act passed last week, but the real deadline day has not yet arrived -- and it's unclear when it will.
That's because the Obama administration announced at the end of March that it would grant an extension to people who are having trouble securing health care through the federal marketplace. There is plenty of debate about the politics behind this announcement, but from the perspective of a technology company like Axiaware, it is clear that this news means the ACA and healthcare.gov are still experiencing technical difficulties.
And this high-profile, massive IT project, while painful for many, can provide some valuable insights into the realities of any IT project.
By Brad Powell
Rarely has it been written that a financial institution has to be hip to succeed.
Even less common is the idea that all a business needs to get hip is a little perspective.
Yet, in any business category — finance, media, construction, retail, whatever – it can be difficult to assess what's going on outside the walls of your operation. When you are inside, it is hard to get a complete picture of the market.
Rarely has it been written that a financial institution has to be hip to succeed.
Even less common is the idea that all a business needs to get hip is a little perspective.
Yet, in any business category — finance, media, construction, retail, whatever – it can be difficult to assess what's going on outside the walls of your operation. When you are inside, it is hard to get a complete picture of the market.
By Brad Powell
A great football coach is many things: Organized. Driven. Cool under pressure. Willing and able to help each team member reach his full potential, on and off the gridiron.
The qualities that make a coach a winner often are useful in other lines of work, too – that's why so many coaches write business leadership books.
But, as smart and effective as so many football coaches are, they would make poor technology partners.
Admittedly, this hypothetical situation is outlandish – it's unlikely Bill Belichick will be looking for work in the tech sector after he's done with the Patriots — but in case any of your prospective tech vendors have football coaching in their resume, here's what to look for – and avoid.
A great football coach is many things: Organized. Driven. Cool under pressure. Willing and able to help each team member reach his full potential, on and off the gridiron.
The qualities that make a coach a winner often are useful in other lines of work, too – that's why so many coaches write business leadership books.
But, as smart and effective as so many football coaches are, they would make poor technology partners.
Admittedly, this hypothetical situation is outlandish – it's unlikely Bill Belichick will be looking for work in the tech sector after he's done with the Patriots — but in case any of your prospective tech vendors have football coaching in their resume, here's what to look for – and avoid.
A vendor-client relationship is just that, a relationship. And all relationships require open and honest communication.
How does that develop between vendors and clients? It starts with the vendors themselves – and more often than not, the vendors that have the best relationships inside their own organization end up with the best relationships with outside clients.
How does that develop between vendors and clients? It starts with the vendors themselves – and more often than not, the vendors that have the best relationships inside their own organization end up with the best relationships with outside clients.
Some clients get a better value from their technology vendors. That's not because contractors try harder, stay up later, take less money, or prioritize one client over another. It's because some clients make it easier for the vendor to succeed within their organizations. Others can make it hard to get anything done at all.
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