What’s This? Software With No Bells & Whistles???
A recent tournament for computer programmers crowned a champion whose winning secret was “avoiding bells and whistles, and asking questions until he knew exactly what the judges wanted his software to do.”
WOW! What a novel idea - do the basics right and really understand what the client wants. And don’t try to overwhelm them with a lot of fluff they don’t need.
We work a lot with clients looking to pick a project or IT portfolio management or innovation management solution, and it is amazing the sheer number of useless bells and whistles that the developers of these solutions show us during demonstrations. I presume the aim is that by showing us lots of potentially cool but ultimately useless features, we and our client will be so taken with the “shock and awe” that we will forget the real needs we have. Sorry guys.
Unfortunately, we’ve talked to companies who’ve already picked a solution and been lured by these features which will never be used and which they’ve realized after the fact.
Yes - it is true that 80% of the features in most of these tools will not be used. Figure out what is really important and pay for that. This requires understanding the processes and outcomes you are hoping for and not assuming that a slick system or a “solution” will save the day.
Tags: innovation management software, IT portfolio management, project portfolio management
