How to Wow the Bean Counters

Contributing Writer, Computerworld |

Get the requirements right. When you thoroughly analyze and understand business processes, you can pinpoint exactly where improvements should be made, dramatically upping the chance of developing a system with high payback.
Don't release until it's ready. The best way to instill confidence -- and ensure fast adoption -- is to release a system that's bug-free. You can't get returns if no one trusts the system.
Get to know users. Spending lots of time with users increases IT's understanding of what they need to boost their productivity -- and the system's ROI.
Rope in top execs. When your project hits the inevitable bumps in the road, you need the buy-in of the top brass to smooth the way.
Experiment. You should implement systems with known ROI, but it pays to apply some resources to R&D. That's often the source of surprising big-bang returns.
Do the math. Go in with hard ROI numbers and audit them along the way.

Mary Brandel is a freelance writer based in Massachusetts.

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