The Right Way to Select Technology
Get the Real Story on Finding the Best Fit
Why do half of all technology projects fail? A major reason is that organizations often pick the wrong tools, leaving them digitally hamstrung from the start. This book offers a modern alternative to traditional waterfall approaches to selecting technology. You’ll learn a practical, adaptive process that relies on realistic storytelling and hands-on testing to get the best fit for your enterprise.
Why do half of all technology projects fail? A major reason is that organizations often pick the wrong tools, leaving them digitally hamstrung from the start. This book offers a modern alternative to traditional waterfall approaches to selecting technology. You’ll learn a practical, adaptive process that relies on realistic storytelling and hands-on testing to get the best fit for your enterprise.
Testimonials
There are many books out there written based on reading other books. This great book by Byrne and Gingras is clearly based on years and years of practical experience with helping businesses select the right technology for their needs. Every page of this book is brimming with tested advice, pointers to real pitfalls, practical examples, and clear steps going forward. I highly recommend this book, whether you’re on the verge of a full-scale technology selection process, or you want to master part of it.
Samuel Driessen, Senior Director External Digital Channels at Teva Pharmaceuticals
Those who work with software often point to the ever-changing and fast-paced dynamic of the world of technology as a sign to move quickly at all costs. But the real truth is that once a core software platform is selected, an organization is going to live with that choice for many, many years to come. So, do yourself a favor and read The Right Way to Select Technology before you make that choice. You’ll be glad you did.
Lisa Welchman, consultant and author, Managing Chaos: Digital Governance by Design
To call the strategies in this book “battle-tested” would be a profound understatement. They’re the evolutionary product of years of continuous usage, evaluation, and refinement. What Byrne and Gingras explain in these pages rises above the blistering pace of technology to provide a spectacular overhead view.
Deane Barker, Chief Strategy Officer, Blend Interactive
A user-centric, business-driven approach to select technology for living, breathing human beings is critical to drive digital transformation. This practical book offers a refreshing approach that makes you rethink current practices.
Bonnie Cheuk, Global Head of Digital, Euroclear
If you’re tasked with leading a technology selection process, you owe it to yourself to read this book. Byrne and Gingras show you how to assemble the right cross-functional team and governance structure and create an evaluation process based on the roles and functional needs of the people in your organization
Lane Halley Goldstone, co-founder, Brooklyn Copper Cookware
Over the past 15 years, my firm has trained more than 40,000 professionals in more than 20 countries to use new technologies successfully. No matter how effective our training is, though, we can’t undo the impact of the wrong technology choices without a great deal of time, pain, and expense. Reading this richly informative and insightful book will help you avoid these difficulties and make the best choices for your organization at the very beginning.
Steven Heckler, CEO, Accelebrate
Read the book, follow the steps, and take control of your enterprise software life. My thanks to Tony and Jarrod for writing this excellent book.
Michael Krigsman, host, CXOTALK, and executive fellow at Center for Digital Strategies, Tuck School, Dartmouth, expert on IT failure
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Craft a No-Bullshit Business Case
Chapter 2: Build a Selection Team That Works
Chapter 3: Get the Basic Foundations Right
Chapter 4: Capture Requirements That Don’t Suck
Chapter 5: Why User Stories Are Everything
Chapter 6: Ask Questions That Really Matter
Chapter 7: Find More Than the Usual Suspects
Chapter 8: How to Target the Right Suppliers
Chapter 9: Choose the Best Solicitation Approach
Chapter 10: Create RFPs That Actually Work
Chapter 11: Keeping It Real with Bidders
Chapter 12: How to Evaluate Proposals Critically
Chapter 13: Hold Demos on Your Own Terms
Chapter 14: Run Competitor Proof-of-Concepts
Chapter 15: Negotiate Like a Pro
Chapter 16: Make the Right Final Selection
Chapter 17: Adapt This Process for Selecting Services Firms
