Our website will help clarify the software evaluation process and allow you to organize and run a professional software acquisition effort.  My desire is to make the software evaluation process understandable and to tell you what works and what doesn’t.  I have felt for years that some of my colleagues make the process more difficult and confusing than it needs to be.  (In Texas, we call this killing a fly with a sledgehammer.)

I want you to be able to lead one of these projects on your own.  After going through our website and reviewing the available resources you will be able to:

Get your software evaluation project organized
Create a software requirements document
Determine your vendor shortlist
Create a request for proposal
Create an evaluation methodology tailored to your organization
Create demonstration scripts
Facilitate the vendor demonstration sessions
Facilitate the final selection process

Our site is not meant to be a scholarly document but a real life how-to.  The methodology that I teach will work for any industry and for any sized project.  Take what works for you and get to work.  This is what I did when I first got involved in the software acquisition facilitation business.  My boss provided me with some tools.  Over the years I have tweaked these tools, adding some and dropping some others, to come up with the protocols you can read about or watch on the website.

Our software evaluation methodology will save you time and money.

We are going to slow you down; some of the steps make take you longer than if you were going this alone.  The time savings will be evident when you do not have to start over or tank the project entirely because the wrong software was selected.  We will move slowly and deliberately so we can finish faster.

You will hear references to the “art” of software evaluation and then, later on, to the “science.”  Generally speaking, the “art” relates to working and dealing with people—and with using your intuition and experience to navigate issues.  It’s a process of discernment and trust in your instincts.  “Science” relates more to the mathematical compilation of a functional score for a particular vendor.  It also relates to the creation of an empirical evaluation mechanism.  Software evaluation involves both art and science.  Despite what some say, you just can’t come up with a “score” for a vendor and say that the highest scoring software vendor wins.  Similarly, you can’t just go on vibe either.  You need both art and science, and you need to know that and accept it going in.

Let’s also remember, as we go through all of this together, that software evaluation and acquisition is a tactic, not an end game.  We are evaluating tools to make your employer more efficient, and hopefully, more profitable.  Let’s keep our eye on the ball.

Good luck on your search!

Frequently Asked Questions for Software Evaluation Projects

Who are the best software vendors?

What type of scoring mechanism do you use during the software evaluation process?

How is choosing software different than purchasing other products and services for my organization?

What is the hardest, most time-consuming aspect of the software evaluation process?

When hiring a consulting firm to help and provide value during the software evaluation process, what should we be looking for?

I am concerned that if I hire a consulting firm, a team of consultants are going to descend upon our workplace.  Can’t this be a one-person consulting job?

What is the best way to conduct software product demonstrations?

Is it absolutely necessary to send out a Request for Proposal (RFP)?

What is a vendor long list and how do I obtain one?

Do vendor reference checks really work?

I was recently advised to go visit the offices of my software vendor of choice.  It seems like a waste of time – what do you think?

Resources for Software Evaluation

(Book) Software & Vendors & Requirements, Oh My!  A Project Team's Guide to Evaluating Business Software

The Vendor Evaluation Process

(Book) A Guide to Software Package Evaluation and Selection

When a software selection project falls out of the sky and onto your plate, you need a strong heart, a sharp brain, and the courage to tackle the task.  This is the book that provides all three, and more.  It is a clear and methodical map through the unclear and needlessly chaotic process of software selection.

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To Learn More About The Book