At the conclusion of a vendor selection effort, Kim Ehrman recommends celebrating the project finale by reviewing all that the team has accomplished and remembering why they invested this time and expertise.

In the Contracting & Planning phase of a vendor selection effort, our goal is to dot every i and cross every t in executing vendor contract(s) and prep for implementation.

In the Negotiation & Alignment phase of a vendor selection effort, our goal is to confidently decide on the go-forward solution, considering everything the selection team has learned through the process.

In the Due Diligence & Consideration phase of a vendor selection effort, our goal is to cut through the sales pitch and figure out which options are truly a good fit.

In the Demos & Vendor Evaluation phase of a vendor selection effort, our goal is to get a clear sense for how each option can – or can’t – meet the stated needs, and begin understanding compatibility between teams.

In the Vendor Engagement phase of a vendor selection effort, our goal is to engage respectfully and productively with vendors (without oversharing!) to get a clear sense of which options may work well.

In the Vendor List phase of a vendor selection effort, our goal is to draw on information from the facilitator, selection team, and research to identify vendors that have a strong possibility of meeting our needs.

In the Future State Vision phase of a vendor selection effort, our goal is to illustrate what can be clearly enough that we open up our thinking beyond simply replacing an existing tool or process.

In the Prioritized Requirements phase of a vendor selection effort, our goal is to be able to describe the system capabilities we need to enable business outcomes.

In the Quick Start phase of a vendor selection effort, our goal is to begin this effort with realistic expectations around approach, timeframe, and outcomes throughout the project team and sponsors.

Kim Ehrman introduces an eleven-part FlexPoint Field Notes on vendor selection, which walks through our approach to build a lasting partnership with technology vendors based on proven fit.