Product Selection

To select technology products in today's fast-paced environment, an iterative product selection process is used. As opposed to traditional sequential processes, this approach systematically uses, reuses, and refines requirements and all relevant information. The process defines ‘just enough’ requirements to screen the market for potential solutions. The information that becomes available as a result of screening, in turn, influences and enhances the next level of requirement definition.

Define the first cut of requirements by analyzing

• current  processes as described in Re-engineering efforts
• experiences of MIS departments in other organizations
• commercially available products for the market segment

Select the product that seems to offer flexibility, range, and customization opportunities combined with state of the art presentation. This product will then be brought in on a trial basis.

Meanwhile changes on the market should be monitored and analyzed to ensure that another candidate would be identified quickly in case of dissatisfaction with performance and offerings of the first selection. (Should that happen, familiarity with the first product by several of your people would be an asset for the next iteration.) In this process the requirements are finalized and an understanding of the adequacy of the product is formed. Based on thus acquired knowledge, future recommendations can be formulated.

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Copyright 1998, 1999. Laura Brown, LBPI, Inc. (DBA: System Innovations)

Last Updated: February 10, 1999