Presentation to Small Business Council - providing focus to key IT issues of interest to small business as they perform strategic planning

1. The Top 10 IT Tips Every
SMB Should Know.
Bob Dunning, Principal
Justin Copie, Director of Business Development

2. Tip #1: IT is an enabler,
never the answer.

3. Tip #2: IT is best controlled by
the leader(s) of organizational strategy.

4. Tip #3: Avoid jumping to the solution
without understanding the problem.

5. Tip #4: Understand the balance of cost,
quality, schedule.

6. Pick 2
Quality
(high)
Cost
(low)
Schedule
(fast)

7. Tip #5: Never underestimate a system
implementation. Chances are, you’ll fail.

8. Tip #5: Never underestimate a system
implementation. Chances are, you’ll fail.
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Planning is the key
An ERP project is NOT an IT project
Keep the company culture in mind
Staffing  The best people
 Product selection considerations:


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Degree of function fit
Industry-specific vs. common solution
Flexibility / Complexity / Usability
Vendor stability / credibility
TCO
References
On Time &
Budget, 10%
Cancelled,
35%
Time or
Budget
Overruns,
55%
Compare Business Products ©2012

9. Tip #6: Implement a cloud-based email
platform and save yourself a lot of headache.

10. Tip #7: Walk before you run. Don’t
assume that if you build it, they will come.

11. Tip #8: Software is evolving into a service.

12. Tip #9: Mobile device use is expected by
employees and customers .

13. Tip #10: Prepare for a 2.5 year average
retention of IT staff.