In episode 71 of the Data Modernization Minute, Wayne Sadin gives advice on choosing and working with great partners.
Highlights
01:06 — Wayne’s first piece of advice when looking for a partner is to choose a consultant with industry or functional experience that matches your firm’s needs.
01:43 — Pick a firm that has experience working with companies and projects of your size, and ensure they can staff appropriately. It’s also important to consider customization complexity while making your choice.
02:15 — Consider how well your organization is prepared for issues such as OCM (organizational change management), PMO (project management office) communications, and project management methodologies when undergoing change. If these areas are weak, consider partnering with a company that has those strengths in them.
03:27 — Wayne suggests that you pick a project wrangler to manage the various aspects of your project. The project wrangler is responsible for managing communication among the vendor, partner, business people, and information technology (IT) people, and ensuring that everyone is working together effectively.
04:13 — Negotiating a pain-sharing agreement is also recommended so that if the project takes longer than expected, there is a plan for compensating for the additional time and cost.
04:56 — Finally, remember that you can outsource your hardware, software, and arms and legs, but outsourcing your brains is not recommended.
