Final Considerations
We are wrapping up a discussion series on selecting and evaluating project management software. Here are a few considerations before making your final decision.
At this point, you should have a good idea of which vendor you want to select. However, there are some remaining (but not unimportant) tasks to complete.
Ensure that you understand the complete cost of the implementation.
If you have not done so already (which you should have), obtain a written quotation of the costs involved. Review this with the vendor to be sure that you understand it. Ask questions such as "what happens if in two months we need your help", etc. Will the vendor be charging you for a lot of professional services time or is what you see up front what you get? Can you do the implementation yourself, or will you be paying the vendor to do it? What if you want to add more licenses or subscriptions down the road?
Talk to other customers as appropriate.
Talk to some of the vendor's other customers and see what their experience has been like. What type of support have they received? Did they pay more than they expected? What is the vendor like to work with?
Review the contract.
Be sure that you understand the contract (or order form) that you will sign. How will future upgrades be handled? Even if you will be doing the implementation yourself, how much will it cost to get the vendor's help if needed? Does the contract say what you believe to be the true cost?
Let me also say that you need to understand the type of software that you are procuring. If you are purchasing a $200 stand-alone desktop application, you are probably not going to get a written quotation and talk with customers, as you would with a $20,000 package. So use some common sense there.
Review your objectives again.
Go back to your comparison chart and objectives and be sure that your selection is going to help you meet those goals. It is difficult at this point to keep the emotion out of it, including the "I just want this process to be over with" emotion.
Plan the implementation.
Don't forget to plan the implementation. This is relevant to the current discussion because you want to be sure you are ready, know when you want to complete the implementation, and be sure the vendor is on board (if applicable) with your plans. Plus you don't want to lose momentum. You want to keep the ball rolling and move into executing your plan.
Don't forget to leave your comments or email blog@teaminteractions.com with your feedback on what has been successful for you.
At this point, you should have a good idea of which vendor you want to select. However, there are some remaining (but not unimportant) tasks to complete.
Ensure that you understand the complete cost of the implementation.
If you have not done so already (which you should have), obtain a written quotation of the costs involved. Review this with the vendor to be sure that you understand it. Ask questions such as "what happens if in two months we need your help", etc. Will the vendor be charging you for a lot of professional services time or is what you see up front what you get? Can you do the implementation yourself, or will you be paying the vendor to do it? What if you want to add more licenses or subscriptions down the road?
Talk to other customers as appropriate.
Talk to some of the vendor's other customers and see what their experience has been like. What type of support have they received? Did they pay more than they expected? What is the vendor like to work with?
Review the contract.
Be sure that you understand the contract (or order form) that you will sign. How will future upgrades be handled? Even if you will be doing the implementation yourself, how much will it cost to get the vendor's help if needed? Does the contract say what you believe to be the true cost?
Let me also say that you need to understand the type of software that you are procuring. If you are purchasing a $200 stand-alone desktop application, you are probably not going to get a written quotation and talk with customers, as you would with a $20,000 package. So use some common sense there.
Review your objectives again.
Go back to your comparison chart and objectives and be sure that your selection is going to help you meet those goals. It is difficult at this point to keep the emotion out of it, including the "I just want this process to be over with" emotion.
Plan the implementation.
Don't forget to plan the implementation. This is relevant to the current discussion because you want to be sure you are ready, know when you want to complete the implementation, and be sure the vendor is on board (if applicable) with your plans. Plus you don't want to lose momentum. You want to keep the ball rolling and move into executing your plan.
Don't forget to leave your comments or email blog@teaminteractions.com with your feedback on what has been successful for you.
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