The gleam in the eyes of the entrepreneurs who think that they are redefining the enterprise software business comes from the profits associated with legions of consultants. In other words, the basic role models for technical excellence are businesses that succeed because of the failure of their software design. It's possible to design software that actually meets customer requirements, has low service costs and delights end users. It's easier to forget about quality and focus exclusively on cost and budget. In this uncertain little economic moment, be certain that the software you end up using doesn't cost more to use than it does to license.
Usable Web provides a huge array of resources for interface design.
Although the interface is a secondary problem, Usable Web is a good starting place. We'd love to talk about your project. 346 Starling Rd. You may download a copy for personal use. Redistribution without permission is strictly prohibited.