Entinex, Translating technology dollars into business sense, The Technology Strategy Company.Entinex Translates
About UsReading RoomServicesContact UsHomeTechnology
As difficult as it is to buy the right software, you’d think they’d call it hardware. You need to be an expert in how to buy software. You need to know how to write a software specification. For every business there are many problems or needs that can be addressed. Technology will only be able to solve certain problems. For every one of those there are many technologies that will work. For every technology there are many more products or solutions of that technology. And, for every product or solution there are that many more vendors. How do you know if the vendor you picked is even going to have a product, a technology or a solution that can solve your problem and that it's the right problem to solve with technology? First you need to figure out which business problems need to be solved. Then you need to narrow down which of those business problems can be solved with technology. After that you need to determine which technologies are the right ones to apply to solve those problems. Only then can you identify the technology product or solution to address those needs. Don't even think about talking to a developer or vendor until you've done these steps. CMMI can be applied to small companies and in agile development environments and methods.You can achieve a CMMI level rating even though you use XP (Extreme Programming) or another Agile Development approach or method.Looking for help implementing CMMI? Need someone who will understand that 'your're different?' Looking for discipline in a lightweight environment? Entinex understands and can help you achieve your process objectives.Software development isn't manufacturing. So why do people keep trying to use manufacturing methods on software? Manufacturing QA doesn't work in software which is why so much software QA is so painful. Entinex has the solution. Don't let obsolete thinking about software processes intimidate you out of pursuing a CMMI level rating. Old-style thinking about software processes have not kept up with the times, but Entinex has. Entinex understands that you're in business not for the process but to make money selling software products, solutions, and services. Let Entinex help you achieve your process goals without breaking your bank or rhythm.
Did you know that your technology project has an 80% chance of failing? Do you know what to do to improve those odds? Do you know what to ask your software developer or vendor to make sure they know what to do so that the project you're paying them to do doesn't fail?

Technology On Price Alone

 Less than 3 out of 10 software projects succeed to come in on time, come in on budget, do what the customer wants them to do. Why should your software project be among the (more than) 7 failed projects? Over 50% of all failed projects over-run their budgets by 189%, over-run their Schedules by 222%, deliver an average of 60% of what the customer wanted. In other words, customers paid twice as much, waited twice as long and got half of what they expected. The common theme is that NONE ever had a reliable estimate in the 1st place. The odds are against you. Most software developers and their clients have no means of accurately estimating the software project, predicting the outcome of projects or ensuring project success.
When business executives are faced with a technology decision, where can they go? Will a vendor be objective? Will a colleague be qualified? Will their in-law understand the needs of their business? Entinex is the business executive's advocate. We do not take on technology development projects ourselves. Instead, we refer all actual development to qualified providers. This ensures that our recommendations are in our clients' best interests, not ours. Furthermore, Entinex receives no commissions, referral fees or kick-backs from any of these referrals. For these clients we provide the services of an Outsourced CIO. It's really quite simple: someone has to think strategically about technology for your business. If no one at your company does that for you, then call Entinex.
outsourced CIO, technology strategy, technology strategy consulting, technology advisor, trusted advisor, executive advisor, technology consulting, technology management, technology management consulting, technical consulting, technical consultant, how to pick a vendor, how to pick a software vendor, how to pick a software developer, how to pick a software company, how to pick software, how to pick the right software, how to choose a software developer, technology consultant, business process re-engineering, software architect, software architecture, process assets, process consulting, process improvement, software process improvement, CMMI, SCAMPI, CMM, ISO 9000, SEI, capability maturity model, capability maturity model integration, software engineering institute, process consultant, software method, management method, delopment method, process maturity, capability maturity, maturity level, capability level, CMMI, SCAMPI, CMM, ISO 9000, SEI, level 2, level 3, level 4, level 5, appraisal, lead appraiser, level rating, how to estimate software
Get FREE Techhology Strategy Advice from Entinex
Can't find what you're looking for? We're glad to help!
 

Proudly, an:
We adhere to the SEI's Ethics and Compliance Standards of Excellence

Licensed to deliver
CMMI SCAMPI and
Introduction to CMMI Services.
We abide by the SEI's Ethics and Compliance Standards of Excellence

Become a Fan on
Facebook

Follow our CEO on
Twitter

 

 

 

continued from page 1

Business owners can do much to ensure they get the right technology and at the right price.  These four steps will allow owners to solve this dilemma with only a little up-front homework. 

A.  Before looking up a technology or calling in vendors, define your need in two ways: (1) what can’t you get done that you want to get done, and (2) what would your business processes look like if everything worked the way you wished them to.

B.  Educate yourself, but not in a vacuum.  Talk to employees, advisors, neutral parties and trusted vendors about what you’re considering.  Though your situation may be unique enough to require a custom solution, it’s likely that someone can cut through much of the noise down to just a few ideas from which you can make your final considerations.  Along these lines, not all vendors with supposed strengths in your vertical are going to have the best fit solution for you.  Such vendors’ solutions may not be entirely appropriate for your actual needs.

C.  When entertaining vendors, share your needs and desires with them and specifically ask them to address how their product, service, or solutions do or don’t match your defined needs.  Some vendors may have helpful suggestions you haven’t thought of and can help you better define your needs and ensure the proper depth and breadth to the solution.  When discussing technologies, keep your business processes foremost in your mind.  This will ensure that you can relate the products features and benefits to what you actually do and what you will actually use.

D.  Compare technology products, services, and solutions to your business, not to each other.  Compare them to how you want to work, the impact on your business, how much maintenance you want to do yourself, and whatever other subjective and objective measures relevant to your business.  Comparing options to each other will only deter you from getting what’s right for your business.

When making any purchase, cost is never the only consideration.  At some point before the cost question you’ve probably determined that the items you’re choosing among meet a minimum set of expectations.  Technology is no different.  Be sure you get the right technology for you, which is not necessarily what some other measure defines as the "best"  technology for the market.

<<<Go Back to Page 1

 

 

 

Copyright Notice and Reproduction Permission
All Contents © Copyright Entinex, Inc.  All rights reserved.  These works may be freely reproduced, distributed, or transmitted solely for non-commercial, personal, or educational purposes, provided that they are not modified and any reproduction or transmission contains this copyright notice and the author’s complete bio and company information as provided.  Nothing else may otherwise be used, reproduced, published, or disseminated without prior written permission.


 

  
Did you know that your technology project has an 80% chance of failing? Do you know what to do to improve those odds? Do you know what to ask your software developer or vendor to make sure they know what to do so that the project you're paying them to do doesn't fail?
Would you like your software estimates to improve? Would you like to have predictability and consistency in your software projects? Wouldn't it be nice if you could forecast your capacity for new work and your sales effort? Wouldn't better estimats result in happier clients?

Entinex, Inc., A GLOBAL Company Based in Baltimore - Washington | 877-ENTINEX | Contact Us
©2004-10 Entinex, Inc. All rights reserved. | See our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer