Technology Acquisition: Buying the Future of Your Business
Excerpted from The Introduction  The Ground RulesThe goal of this book is to describe a way of managing a technology acquisition project that will facilitate the decision-making process so that you select the right vendor, with the right technology, for your business. The book will also discuss how to implement and operate the technology once you have selected the vendor.Early in my career, I managed several software development projects. Then one day, I was asked to manage a project to acquire technology. I searched everywhere looking for information on how to manage this type of project. I perused bookstores, libraries, magazines, and the Internet looking for anything I could find on the subject. I found many books on the topics of project management, negotiation, outsourcing, software development, government technology acquisition, and business acquisition. But there was nothing that specifically addressed these topics in the context of acquiring technology for a typical business. I was forced to read several books on the topics listed above in order to extract the information that would help me manage this type of project successfully. I eventually ended up creating my own project life cycle. After applying this project life cycle to several successful technology acquisition projects, I decided to share my findings with other project managers who are faced with the same challenge I faced. I am writing the book I wish I had before managing my first technology acquisition.I have tried to keep the information presented in this book at a level where it will be most useful to an experienced project manager who is new to managing a technology acquisition project. However, if you have ten years' experience in managing technology acquisitions, you shouldn't jump to the conclusion that there is nothing here for you.This is not a book about managing government technology acquisitions or $100M+ technology acquisitions. An experienced project manager who has never managed a technology acquisition will not likely get a chance to manage an acquisition of more than $10M on their first project of this type. Additionally, a process this extensive would be difficult to justify on an acquisition of less than $500K. This book is targeted at the experienced project manager who will be, or is, managing his first technology acquisition of $500K to $10M. That said, there is also value for anyone who is involved with a technology acquisition.This could include executive management, IT management, project stakeholders, project sponsors, project teams, vendors, implementation teams, support teams, or any others who are impacted in some way by a technology acquisition project.As you read this book, you might find that this process is simple. I have elected to outline a step-by-step process that will be simple enough to use in your first technology acquisition project. As you gain experience, you may elect to modify this process or expand it to better fit your situation.My role is to get you through the first project successfully while providing you with practical advice and techniques and an understanding of how to deal with the most important ingredient of any project, the people.020173804XP04062001