Point of Origin

So maybe your latest “Technology Project” started by a conversation in the break room around the water cooler (Yes, I know I am dating myself) or purely out of the necessity of adding new SaaS to your day-2-day business operations.  “Technology Projects” can start from multiple directions but successful planning and deployment requires a clear picture of your POO.  (Point of Origin).  All too often, the “New Car Smell” clouds the long-term planning and the value of the project is lost in the resulting chaos. 

This is a great segue into the first step of the CT Solutions six (6) step process which is “DEFINE”. 

• Define the goal of the “Technology Project”
• Define the value of the “Technology Project”
  • What does success of the “Technology Project” look like?
  • What does failure of the “Technology Project” look like? 
• Define the timeline of the “Technology Project”
• Define the budget of the “Technology Project” 
• Define the decision-making process of the “Technology Project”
  • Define who will be responsible for the decision making of the “Technology Project”

The answers to these questions lead to multiple additional questions that will begin to shape the overall direction of the project.  More common than anyone wants to admit, these questions are neglected as business owners acknowledge the need for new technology but brush over vitally important factors such as budget, timeline, or product expertise. 

An example of just such a situation was spoken a number of years ago from an administrator of a City Chamber of Commerce.  As I was explaining the value of “Technology Architecture” the administrator stated “ I know just what you are talking about” She continued to tell me about a member who a few months prior had purchased a piece of software (I am assuming it was a CRM, back when software was still delivered on a CD and non-refundable) for the purchase price of $ 30,000.00.  The salesperson had done a great job of outlining all the wonderful benefits of this piece of software but after the company had made the purchase, it was discovered their network was not compatible.  An additional $ 80,000.00 would be required to upgrade the network to the point where the software could actually be used.  That $ 80,00.00 was not in the company budget so the software sat in a box in the bookcase behind the CEO’s desk every month as the payment for the $ 30,000.00 software went out in the mail.  I do not believe the company was ever able to utilize the software. 

If you were to interview IT businesses across the country, you would hear thousands of stories just like this one or even worse.  The question is “What is the best way to avoid these costly and potentially deadly business mistakes?” The answer is to establish a good POO.  I am going to provide a number of possibly difficult but necessary questions that any IT project manager, operations manager, or business owner should ask, answer, and document the answers before diving into any “Technology Project”.  Please understand, these questions may only scratch the surface and set a baseline.  Every company is unique. Every business manager, business owner, or IT project manager will have a different level of experience.  Every business goal has a unique starting point, a unique journey, a unique team of experience, and a diverse set of resources.  It is these differences that make it vital to success to establish specific checklist for every IT project.  Here are a few questions that should be considered. 

In addition to the individual businesses “Point of Origin” it is important to consider the “Technology Industries” “Point of Origin” as well.  The term assigned to the drastic shift in technology and the technology industry itself is “Digital Transformation”.  Digital Transformation is the process of the legacy analog and digital voice carriers migrating their networks from copper infrastructure to fiber optic and rebranding as “Internet Service Providers”, “Cloud Networking Providers”, “Cloud Processing Providers” and “SaaS” or “Software as a Service Providers”. Digital Transformation is trading the previous “CAPX” or capital expense, for OPX or operating expense.  It is the process of retiring proprietary premise-based equipment for open architecture cloud based “Right to Use” software licensing.  

Acknowledging a clear understanding of where the technology industry “HAS GONE” (Referring to the fact it is no longer going in this direction, it has already gone) will help shape the decision-making process for the purchase of technology.  Buying a Toshiba telephone system for your new business location could easily be compared to attempting to purchase a new Pontiac.  Although you may find some parts on the internet for either situation, manufacturers’ support is long gone.  There are no more warranties or product updates. 

One more area I would encourage everyone to include in the process of establishing your “Point of Origin” is testing your network on a regular basis.  If you already have an established network and are seeking to add business applications to it, does it not make since to identify any cyber vulnerabilities before you add additional applications and potential holes to your network?  If you are in the process of building a network from the ground up, does it not make since to test the network from the get-go before you bring on any staff and again potential vulnerabilities?  With the fast and ever-changing technology world, establishing a cyber security baseline on a regular basis could be the difference between the purchase of an EDR license and a $ 200,000.00 cyber security breach.  Understand, cyber attacks are not a simple cat and mouse game.  To the cyber attacker, it is a way of life.  They take hacking your computer and stealing your personal / corporate data as seriously as you do clocking in at work, paying your mortgage, sending your kids to private school, or taking a dream vacation.  Cyber-Attackers are using the highest level of digital processing to search every corner of the worldwide web for any foothold.  They are using AI to match faces, social security numbers, drivers’ licenses numbers, phone numbers, and the answers to common security questions off social media and public records. 

I have frequently stated the two greatest lies in this life are “That apple won’t kill you”, and “Technology will make your life easier”.  The idea of “Plug and Play” is actually the most risky and potentially the most expensive.  Another one of my common quotes is “It is less expensive to build it right than to build it again”.  Take the time to establish a good “Point of Origin.  Take the time to build your commercial / corporate network as a tool to assist your business grow and not as a liability allowing opportunities to blow past. 

It is my hope this information is helpful.  If you are interested receiving additional articles like this or contracting a “Technology Architecture” firm, please feel free to sign up for notification from our blog, post on Linkedin and Facebook, subscribe to our podcast, or complete the “Getting Started” form on the CT Solutions web page.  We look forward to working with you.