Information Systems Methodology

Someone has an idea. It will probably involve spending a considerable amount of money to purchase software.

You buy maybe 1, 2, 3 significant software packages a year. The vendor sells tens, hundreds or even thousands of software packages a year. Who is going to steer the evaluation and decision making? Chances are it is not going to be you. At the end you will probably look back and make a very long list of things you should have done differently. Perhaps you should have had a an information systems methodology approach and used some methodology tools.

Methodology Approach

What you need is a software package selection process. A set of methodology tools packaged in an information systems methodology that will guide you along the path. You take control, not the vendors. That is where we can help with SP².

SP² stands for Software Package Selection Process (SPSP or SP²). It is a software methodology that takes you step by step through a software package selection.

What does it consist of?

SP² software methodology selection tool consists of:

• 12 phases
• 164 activities within those phases each with it's own web page listing purpose, inputs, steps, deliverables, instructions, templates and more information.
• 121 Templates
• 31 Reference Documents including extensive guides for things like risk management, benefit identification, testing etc.
• Numerous references to Project Perfect White Papers on topics that are relevant to that part of the project.

Purchase the package and download it immediately after payment is processed. Unzip the file to a convenient location and you are ready to start using your software methodology in any browser.

Price is A$1,500 ( ). For Australian purchasers, there is an additional 10% GST.

Pricing is based on exchange rate at (US$1:00 = A$ ). Due to volatility in the US dollar, please check current rates.

Yes. All the web pages, templates and reference material are provided in a form that you can change using basic web tools such as Dreamweaver and Microsoft Office. You can make any changes to suit your organisation and existing processes. It can become your own customised methodology tool.

It would be nice to say this selection tool is a guarantee of success. Unfortunately not. We have yet to invent the silver bullet for a package selection methodology. If you are undertaking a package selection SP² will give you a much higher chance of success. It will alert you to many of the things you need to do that might normally slip through the cracks. It will also streamline many of the activities and ensure they are carried out at the appropriate time. It has the ability to turn a potential bad financial decision into a cost effective software package selection.

SP² is a software package selection tool. It tells you just about everything you might have to do. You select what is appropriate to your situation. Each of the 12 phases starts with a review of the work that may need to be undertaken. The project team make an assessment of what should be included in this project.

The rationale for undertaking each activity is explained and you can decide if it is applicable to your project. Inevitably there will be additional steps to suit your organisation or the peculiarities of the particular software package selection.

Not really. It is a package selection framework. You work within the framework using what is appropriate to the situation, and to your organisation. By all means bring in other components. For example you may have particular approval processes that need to be included or templates already in use. You can modify the software to include those components.

Can I try it out?

Obviously we are not going to give away the whole information systems methodology for someone to try. To enable you to sample it, we have made the 12 phase level web pages, and one complete phase activities, templates and references available to look at our methodology approach. Phase Zero is a complete section. Click here to see how it works.

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