Tag: Maximizing Your Organization’s IT Investments

By Luis Vargas In an earlier post, we discussed the pros and cons of customization vs. using an “out of the box” solution. When selecting a technological solution, it is worth thinking about your initiative in the context of your industry. There may be any number of technology solutions specific to your industry that, when used wisely, can help you achieve your goals faster and with less friction. After all, they were designed with you in mind. On the other hand, sometimes a technological...

By Luis Vargas Technology moves fast. Being able to move with it—acting quickly, and efficiently, and pivoting when necessary—is one of the keys to success. But speed is not the only consideration. Making smart decisions is equally valuable. “Failing fast” means taking an iterative approach to problem-solving—being open to the possibility of failure as a way of gaining information. Failing can give early indications of what does and doesn’t work and can save time and money in the...

By Luis Vargas Every business has unique needs, and it can be tempting to customize existing software solutions to meet those needs precisely. However, customization requires specialized coding skills and, in some cases, custom implementation, which can cause a cascade of challenges. Further revisions will require more code; future releases could be impacted, necessitating even more code. If the customization impacts the software’s functionality, the vendor is typically not responsible...

By Luis Vargas You’ve selected your project and you’ve lined up your KPIs. Now it’s time to drive that project forward and over the finish line. But how? It’s all too common for IT initiatives to get bogged down in bureaucracy, inertia, and poor communication. To overcome those obstacles, you need someone who can pilot the project from beginning to end. You need someone who can craft and share a vision of what the initiative will do, respond to objections, and break through stumbling...