This is the first lesson in the free LIMSpec Certified Consultant (LCC) course presented by the Laboratory Informatics Institute at LIMS University (http://limsuniversity.com).
Welcome to the LIMSpec Certified Consultant course from the Laboratory Informatics Institute,
Lesson 1 – Information Gathering, covers Needs Analysis and the Lab Questionnaire, Vendor Information and the Vendor Questionnaire, and User Requirements and the System Questionnaire.
Although laboratories know their labs, there are few who really understand their informatics needs.
Many don’t even know what “LIMS” stands for, much less how to approach building a case for one and selecting wisely.
The LIMS selection and implementation process is very much a case of “GIGO” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIGO).
Everything depends on correctly and comprehensively identifying the LIMS needs of the lab and its characteristics…
… workflows, number and kind of instruments and reports, etc., as well as…
…main aims in acquiring a LIMS – for if these are not accurately identified then no matter how good a LIMS and LIMS company are, they will not be successful. For that reason…
…the LIMSinstitute’s Lab Questionnaire, or LQ, was developed. The LQ provides a convenient template for you to just fill in the blanks about informatics-related information regarding the lab. It is designed to help you gather sufficient information for potential LIMS vendors to provide at least an initial budgetary quote based on its information. Download both the empty LQ template and the filled-out example to see how to use it. Fill out the LQ in as much detail as it takes to have a good feel for what the LIMS will need to address. The information about the lab that is contained in the LQ will provide the basis for an SOW (Statement of Work), even before any questions are asked of the vendor.
The LQ provides a convenient template for you to just fill in the blanks about…
…informatics-related information regarding the lab. It is designed to help you gather sufficient information for potential LIMS vendors to provide at least an initial budgetary quote based on its information. Download both the empty LQ template and the filled-out example to see how to use it.
…informatics-related information regarding the lab. It is designed to help you gather sufficient information for potential LIMS vendors to provide at least an initial budgetary quote based on its information.
Download both the empty LQ template and the filled-out example to see how to use it.
Fill out the LQ in as much detail as it takes to have a good feel for what the LIMS will need to address. The information about the lab that is contained in the LQ will provide the basis for an SOW (Statement of Work), even before any questions are asked of the vendor.
Fill out the LQ in as much detail as it takes to have a good feel for what the LIMS will need to address. The information about the lab that is contained in the LQ will provide the basis for an SOW (Statement of Work), even before any questions are asked of the vendor.
Fill out the LQ in as much detail as it takes to have a good feel for what the LIMS will need to address. The information about the lab that is contained in the LQ will provide the basis for an SOW (Statement of Work), even before any questions are asked of the vendor.
Fill out the LQ in as much detail as it takes to have a good feel for what the LIMS will need to address. The information about the lab that is contained in the LQ will provide the basis for an SOW (Statement of Work), even before any questions are asked of the vendor.
A second part of the information gathering equation is to find out about the LIMS company itself. It is at least as important as knowing about the LIMS product. A LIMS purchase is not over once licenses are bought. It is an ongoing relationship with the vendor as the implementation project unfolds, and afterwards there will be a continued maintenance, support and warranty agreement. And as the laboratory grows and changes, help with further LIMS configuration and development may be needed or desired. The Vendor Questionnaire contains simple contact information, along with history and references. It also asks questions about company philosophy and general project approach, and specific proposed plan, schedule, team, resumes etc. The Vendor Questionnaire may be incorporated into an RFI or RFP along with the Lab Questionnaire and System Questionnaire, and together they provide a means to collect all the necessary information on which to base a LIMS selection. It only remains to see the system demonstrated and have personal interaction with the vendor to verify and expand on their responses.
A second part of the information gathering equation is to find out about the LIMS company itself. It is at least as important as knowing about the LIMS product. A LIMS purchase is not over once licenses are bought. It is an ongoing relationship with the vendor as the implementation project unfolds, and afterwards there will be a continued maintenance, support and warranty agreement. And as the laboratory grows and changes, help with further LIMS configuration and development may be needed or desired.
A second part of the information gathering equation is to find out about the LIMS company itself. It is at least as important as knowing about the LIMS product. A LIMS purchase is not over once licenses are bought. It is an ongoing relationship with the vendor as the implementation project unfolds, and afterwards there will be a continued maintenance, support and warranty agreement. And as the laboratory grows and changes, help with further LIMS configuration and development may be needed or desired.
A second part of the information gathering equation is to find out about the LIMS company itself. It is at least as important as knowing about the LIMS product. A LIMS purchase is not over once licenses are bought. It is an ongoing relationship with the vendor as the implementation project unfolds, and afterwards there will be a continued maintenance, support and warranty agreement. And as the laboratory grows and changes, help with further LIMS configuration and development may be needed or desired.
The Vendor Questionnaire contains simple contact information, along with history and references. It also asks questions about company philosophy and general project approach, and specific proposed plan, schedule, team, resumes etc. The Vendor Questionnaire may be incorporated into an RFI or RFP along with the Lab Questionnaire and System Questionnaire, and together they provide a means to collect all the necessary information on which to base a LIMS selection. It only remains to see the system demonstrated and have personal interaction with the vendor to verify and expand on their responses.
The Vendor Questionnaire contains simple contact information, along with history and references. It also asks questions about company philosophy and general project approach, and specific proposed plan, schedule, team, resumes etc. The Vendor Questionnaire may be incorporated into an RFI or RFP along with the Lab Questionnaire and System Questionnaire, and together they provide a means to collect all the necessary information on which to base a LIMS selection. It only remains to see the system demonstrated and have personal interaction with the vendor to verify and expand on their responses.
The Vendor Questionnaire contains simple contact information, along with history and references. It also asks questions about company philosophy and general project approach, and specific proposed plan, schedule, team, resumes etc. The Vendor Questionnaire may be incorporated into an RFI or RFP along with the Lab Questionnaire and System Questionnaire, and together they provide a means to collect all the necessary information on which to base a LIMS selection. It only remains to see the system demonstrated and have personal interaction with the vendor to verify and expand on their responses.
The Vendor Questionnaire contains simple contact information, along with history and references. It also asks questions about company philosophy and general project approach, and specific proposed plan, schedule, team, resumes etc. The Vendor Questionnaire may be incorporated into an RFI or RFP along with the Lab Questionnaire and System Questionnaire, and together they provide a means to collect all the necessary information on which to base a LIMS selection. It only remains to see the system demonstrated and have personal interaction with the vendor to verify and expand on their responses.
The Vendor Questionnaire contains simple contact information, along with history and references. It also asks questions about company philosophy and general project approach, and specific proposed plan, schedule, team, resumes etc. The Vendor Questionnaire may be incorporated into an RFI or RFP along with the Lab Questionnaire and System Questionnaire, and together they provide a means to collect all the necessary information on which to base a LIMS selection. It only remains to see the system demonstrated and have personal interaction with the vendor to verify and expand on their responses.
Use these links to download the VQ template and an example to use as a guide.
Now we come to what many consider the core of the process, the User Requirement Specification, or list of questions asked of the vendor about their LIMS…
… its IT requirements, architecture, features, functions and services required to implement.
The spotlight is on the system, but as we have seen, the URS is predicated on the lab’s requirements.
Now we come to what many consider the core of the process, the User Requirement Specification, or list of questions asked of the vendor about their LIMS, its IT requirements, architecture, features, functions and services required to implement. The spotlight is on the system, but as we have seen, the URS is predicated on the lab’s requirements. The LIMSinstitute’s System Questionnaire is a comprehensive set of standard user requirements derived from numerous actual RFPs. It is used by deleting all items that do not apply and adding any that may not already be addressed. These decisions are made based on the completed Lab Questionnaire, plus any LIMS experience and expertise that helps the consultant to make decisions on inclusion of standard expectations of a LIMS that apply to the lab in question. The SQ also then functions as a source for creating a demo script for vendors to follow when the time comes to demonstrate the LIMS, as well as SOW and contract deliverables. You can download the SQ and an example of a completed SQ using these URLs.
Now we come to what many consider the core of the process, the User Requirement Specification, or list of questions asked of the vendor about their LIMS, its IT requirements, architecture, features, functions and services required to implement. The spotlight is on the system, but as we have seen, the URS is predicated on the lab’s requirements. The LIMSinstitute’s System Questionnaire is a comprehensive set of standard user requirements derived from numerous actual RFPs. It is used by deleting all items that do not apply and adding any that may not already be addressed. These decisions are made based on the completed Lab Questionnaire, plus any LIMS experience and expertise that helps the consultant to make decisions on inclusion of standard expectations of a LIMS that apply to the lab in question. The SQ also then functions as a source for creating a demo script for vendors to follow when the time comes to demonstrate the LIMS, as well as SOW and contract deliverables. You can download the SQ and an example of a completed SQ using these URLs.
Now we come to what many consider the core of the process, the User Requirement Specification, or list of questions asked of the vendor about their LIMS, its IT requirements, architecture, features, functions and services required to implement. The spotlight is on the system, but as we have seen, the URS is predicated on the lab’s requirements. The LIMSinstitute’s System Questionnaire is a comprehensive set of standard user requirements derived from numerous actual RFPs. It is used by deleting all items that do not apply and adding any that may not already be addressed. These decisions are made based on the completed Lab Questionnaire, plus any LIMS experience and expertise that helps the consultant to make decisions on inclusion of standard expectations of a LIMS that apply to the lab in question. The SQ also then functions as a source for creating a demo script for vendors to follow when the time comes to demonstrate the LIMS, as well as SOW and contract deliverables. You can download the SQ and an example of a completed SQ using these URLs.
Now we come to what many consider the core of the process, the User Requirement Specification, or list of questions asked of the vendor about their LIMS, its IT requirements, architecture, features, functions and services required to implement. The spotlight is on the system, but as we have seen, the URS is predicated on the lab’s requirements. The LIMSinstitute’s System Questionnaire is a comprehensive set of standard user requirements derived from numerous actual RFPs. It is used by deleting all items that do not apply and adding any that may not already be addressed. These decisions are made based on the completed Lab Questionnaire, plus any LIMS experience and expertise that helps the consultant to make decisions on inclusion of standard expectations of a LIMS that apply to the lab in question. The SQ also then functions as a source for creating a demo script for vendors to follow when the time comes to demonstrate the LIMS, as well as SOW and contract deliverables. You can download the SQ and an example of a completed SQ using these URLs.
Now we come to what many consider the core of the process, the User Requirement Specification, or list of questions asked of the vendor about their LIMS, its IT requirements, architecture, features, functions and services required to implement. The spotlight is on the system, but as we have seen, the URS is predicated on the lab’s requirements. The LIMSinstitute’s System Questionnaire is a comprehensive set of standard user requirements derived from numerous actual RFPs. It is used by deleting all items that do not apply and adding any that may not already be addressed. These decisions are made based on the completed Lab Questionnaire, plus any LIMS experience and expertise that helps the consultant to make decisions on inclusion of standard expectations of a LIMS that apply to the lab in question. The SQ also then functions as a source for creating a demo script for vendors to follow when the time comes to demonstrate the LIMS, as well as SOW and contract deliverables. You can download the SQ and an example of a completed SQ using these URLs.
Now we come to what many consider the core of the process, the User Requirement Specification, or list of questions asked of the vendor about their LIMS, its IT requirements, architecture, features, functions and services required to implement. The spotlight is on the system, but as we have seen, the URS is predicated on the lab’s requirements. The LIMSinstitute’s System Questionnaire is a comprehensive set of standard user requirements derived from numerous actual RFPs. It is used by deleting all items that do not apply and adding any that may not already be addressed. These decisions are made based on the completed Lab Questionnaire, plus any LIMS experience and expertise that helps the consultant to make decisions on inclusion of standard expectations of a LIMS that apply to the lab in question. The SQ also then functions as a source for creating a demo script for vendors to follow when the time comes to demonstrate the LIMS, as well as SOW and contract deliverables. You can download the SQ and an example of a completed SQ using these URLs.
Now we come to what many consider the core of the process, the User Requirement Specification, or list of questions asked of the vendor about their LIMS, its IT requirements, architecture, features, functions and services required to implement. The spotlight is on the system, but as we have seen, the URS is predicated on the lab’s requirements. The LIMSinstitute’s System Questionnaire is a comprehensive set of standard user requirements derived from numerous actual RFPs. It is used by deleting all items that do not apply and adding any that may not already be addressed. These decisions are made based on the completed Lab Questionnaire, plus any LIMS experience and expertise that helps the consultant to make decisions on inclusion of standard expectations of a LIMS that apply to the lab in question. The SQ also then functions as a source for creating a demo script for vendors to follow when the time comes to demonstrate the LIMS, as well as SOW and contract deliverables. You can download the SQ and an example of a completed SQ using these URLs.