Experts in Performance-Based Specifications, Test Plans, ITS Architecture Compliance and System Engineering Analysis for Public Transit
The sad fact is that more than 80% of projects fail to satisfy their customers’ real requirements on time and within budget. 80% of those that fail are lost before the supplier ever starts work. And 80% of these are lost before the RFP is even issued. That’s better than half of all project failures that could be easily prevented with just a little of the right kind of up-front support. Add just a little more, just prior to contract award, and you can reduce the likelihood of project failure to less than 20%.
So how can you do better?
Recognize that the only good spec is an acceptance test plan.
Don’t try to write a product design specification; just tell prospective vendors what you need to be able to accomplish with their product.
Don’t insist on custom development.
Let the vendors show you what they already have.
Consider modifying nonstandard practices to accommodate a standard product, rather than changing a standard product to accommodate your nonstandard practice.
Pick the vendor you trust the most, with the product that best meets your needs off the shelf.
Implement the off the shelf product as is. Demonstrate immediate value. Later you can customize it to meet nonstandard needs -- but only if they're still deemed absolutely necessary.
Take the time, prior to contract award, to work out a detailed acceptance test procedure for each user requirement -- and make the acceptance test a part of the contract.
Need help? Don't wait. Project success is our business, since 2003. E-mail us today. You don't need to be a technical expert to write a superior spec. You just need to know what result you expect the system to allow you to achieve. We're here to show you how easy (and inexpensive) it can be to do it on your own.
