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.

Pedro Cortez reflects what we can learn from his son’s (temporary!) set-backs in Ninja competitions, including tenacity, preparing thoroughly, and resisting reacting in panic when things go wrong.

What is one of the most important elements of a discovery session? Keen insights? Not quite. A bingo on the consulting jargon card? Nope. Kim Ehrman argues that it is silence, so we can give space for everyone to think and truly learn from the discussion.

Kim Ehrman describes four key elements of FlexPoint discovery sessions, semi-structured conversations where we know the topic of interest but we truly don’t know what we’ll find out along the way.

Kim Ehrman and Michael Daehne share questions to ask in connecting the dots between four key digital topics and their people implications. We can increase the effectiveness of technology efforts by designing them around their impact on people.

Kim Ehrman and Michael Daehne share reframed -- and sometimes counterintuitive -- perspectives on critical business topics like integration, work-life balance, and career advancement.

Michael Daehne argues that teaching -- rather than explaining -- big technology concepts drives more long-term success. He shares five tactics to teach ideas, including being clear on why the topic matters, identifying learning objectives, and more.

The FlexPoint team was fortunate to work with the Girl Scouts of Central Texas leadership and board to craft a three-year strategic plan and roadmap. Paula Bookidis, CEO of GSCTX, shares a bit about her experience, and Kim Ehrman summarizes the effort.

If everything is a priority, how do you choose what to do first? Product management expert Pedro Cortez shares four ways to pick the next focus area, when finite resources leave more priorities than can be addressed right now.

When the choices ahead of you aren’t worthy of a business case or an Eisenhower Box (urgency compared with importance), Kim Ehrman shares three questions to ask as prioritization shortcuts.