Do You Really Need an RFP?

IS THIS A STRATEGIC SYSTEM?

HOW MANY BUSINESS UNITS MAY BE AFFECTED BY A CHANGE?

WILL EACH OF THOSE BUSINESS UNITS BE ABLE TO DEDICATE RESOURCES TO THE SELECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW VENDOR/SOLUTION?

[See ‘Internal Stakeholder Management’ ]

IS THERE A HIGH RISK IF YOU CHOOSE THE WRONG SOLUTION?

• If the risk is localized to an individual department or does not have potential knock-on effects, a full evaluation • Is the current cost of not having this new system higher than the cost of having to make second decision? a may not be necessary. • Is the new solution • Term of agreement with solution (month to potentially complicated to replace? month has lower risk)

TIP: If ramping up and ramping down the system can be done relatively painlessly, there is less long-term risk to mitigate through a more involved evaluation process.

Processes for Smaller Brands/Chains vs. Larger Brands/Chains

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO EXECUTE AN RFI/RFP PROCESS? CAN YOU ENGAGE A CONSULTANT TO EXECUTE THE PROCESS?

Opportunity Costs • POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF HOURS

The RFP process will take a lot of time.

Would that time be better spent (weighing against a poor decision) elsewhere? • PM SUPPORT

Would the cost of outweigh the cost a Project Manager/Consultant of a poor decision?