WisHList Newsletter November/December 2008

Content list

So long, 2008

We have barely four weeks to go before we pop the corks to usher in 2009. The year we are bidding goodbye was busy and tough for everyone. Without even factoring in the global financial woes, Jo’burg was a stressful environment. Road works, crime and politics all took their toll on our resilience.

Here at WisHList we are already looking forward to the new year. To us, the future in South Africa looks bright indeed. Projects in the IT sector extend way beyond 2010; some as far as 2020. The opportunities are exciting, not only in primary industries such as construction, but in all the support services as well.

Our pipeline is healthy and we are ready to up our game to meet and exceed our existing and new customers’ expectations. 

But first, we have to de-stress and recharge our batteries.

We therefore take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful and safe holiday season. May you rest well and spend quality time with your family and friends.  We look forward to the amazing business we’ll be doing together in 2009!

Best wishes
Neville and Avril

The ups (and downs) of upgrading

Microsoft has announced that the long-awaited NAV 2009 will be released early next year. Should you, or should you not, upgrade? Here are a few points to consider before you make the decision:

  • The purpose of upgrading is to remain in step with technology trends. It should, however, not be technology for technology’s sake. The functionality of the new release should drive your decision from a business point of view.  Upgrading to new functionality that is not applicable to your business processes is a waste of time, energy and resources.
  • Is this upgrade part of your IT business plan and budget, and your upgrade strategy? IT upgrades should be planned for, just like other growth initiatives. You need to ensure that the upgrade is in step with your overall business plan, that you can afford it and that your hardware can support the new software.
  • Vendor support is often an issue. Vendors will usually only support the current version and, at most, two previous versions of a product. NAV 2009 will be version 6, which means that within six months, Microsoft will stop supporting version 4. But that should not drive your upgrade decision. Wishlist supports as far back as version 3.1 and will continue to do so.
  • Clients are often concerned about customisations, given NAV’s adaptability. Professionals, such as Wishlist, have the tools to migrate customisations across to the new version.  It is, however, time consuming and will add to the professional fees.
  • The cost of an upgrade is twofold, ie, the software and the professional fees to do the actual implementation. For most software applications, the vendor charges an annual fee that allows the client to upgrade “for free”. Bear in mind that this only applies to the software. You will still have to pay a professional to do the work.
  • The risk of business disruption gives many businesses cold feet. They hate the thought of having consultants on site, distracting staff from their core business and having their systems interrupted. This is, unfortunately, a very real part of upgrading. You can limit the impact by bringing a professional implementation partner on board to get the job done as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Having considered all these issues, you might be asking yourself what is the worst that can happen if you don’t upgrade. The answer is that you would have to do a re-installation as you can only jump one upgrade level at a time.  So, if you run NAV version 3, you have to go to version 4 and then 5, before upgrading to NAV 2009. This is obviously a very costly and time-consuming process.

With a re-installation, migration of data from the old to the new system is often a problem, but not an insurmountable one. Also bear in mind that licencing is not an issue with re-installation – you do not lose your investment in the product. The professional fees to do the installation and migrate your data will be the deciding factor.

If you are unsure about whether or not to upgrade to NAV 2009, give Wishlist a call on 011 806-3219. We will gladly examine your situation with you and offer our professional opinion.

PM power tips: Managing outsourced projects

Outsourcing doesn’t mean the end of your responsibilities. On the contrary, you need to keep a close eye on the third party to ensure the success of the project. These five steps will go a long way to do just that:

  • State the work
    Before you outsource, specify the statement of work. This is a document which is released to the third party, specifying exactly what you need them to deliver, when and how. It lists your requirements and it gives your supplier the opportunity to confirm that they can meet your expectations.
  • Seal the deal
    Every successful supplier relationship has a strong contract behind it. The so-called supplier contract should clearly state the responsibilities of each party as well as delivery milestones. Make it clear that you will only pay them when the delivery milestones are reached and include penalties for late delivery. Clauses that allow you to pull out if you need to, are essential.
  • Monitor progress
    Keep your finger on the pulse of your supplier’s progress. Get them to complete timesheets and weekly status reports. Make them log all issues, risks and changes and use online project software to track their progress. Make sure you receive the status reports on time. If you don't, it's often because the project is behind schedule and they don't want you to know. To succeed, you need the right status information, at the right time.
  • React fast, very fast
    If you notice delays, risks or issues that have not been dealt with, take action immediately. Arrange a formal meeting with the supplier to discuss it. Bring a copy of the contract with and, if the situation is serious enough, your boss too. State clearly what it is that you want them to do, by when and how. The more seriously you take it, the more likely they will meet your demands and the greater your chances of success.
  • Accept deliverables
    As your supplier completes each delivery milestone, you need to review and formally accept the deliverables. Never leave this to someone else; be personally involved. Follow a formal acceptance process, one that tests each deliverable and ensures it meets your needs.
    Physically sign off on each deliverable. Only when all the deliverables have been signed off, should you make your final supplier payment. Along with this payment, you both need to re-sign the contract, stating that it is 100% complete. This covers you legally and ensures your success.

Information courtesy of Method123

Wishing Well

"Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them."
- W. Clement Stone -

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