TrendWatch Blog
When public agencies select software
19-Nov-2008
I recently had a wide-ranging interview with Government Computer News. The conversation was rather stream-of-consciousness, but I think the most useful part was:
- GCN: What do agency systems developers sometimes forget when
purchasing an ECM system?
BYRNE: ... The third thing is a tendency not to test the tools properly before they sign a contract. The federal government is way behind the commercial space here and doesn't need to be. There is a misperception among contracting officers that the Federal Acquisition Regulation doesn't allow this, but the FAR actually does. Some of the smarter agencies do these [competitive bake-offs], but too few of them do.
As someone committed to the value of proper research, I'll always suggest doing your homework before you start to procure technology, but then -- after getting as smart as you can -- be sure to test....test....test...before you buy.
- Submitted by: Tony Byrne, Analyst
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