Many savvy business managers seem to hit a brick wall when they encounter a technology project-related challenge. Technology providers have historically leveraged the 'black art' component of technology solutions to justify their jaw-dropping prices !

Consequently, many high level managers have come to view web projects as a specialist area and either delay addressing the challenge, or divest responsibility to external parties. We are often asked to provide estimates for very large online developments when a firm has already provided a quotation, but the business owner is concerned about the equity or completeness of the quote received.

When we start trying to uncover the business requirements and perform 'due diligence', we often find business owners have begun with a lack of clarity on exactly what they wish to achieve. This initial 'grey area' impacts the potential project all the way through the rest of the process.  The firms quoting on what is needed, have often completely misunderstood the challenge being addressed, and created themselves and the client a situation that is heading past the "point of no return" for all involved.

Here's where we'll let you into an industry secret.  Technology projects do not involve black art.  Web projects are only complicated and difficult to manage if you make them that way !

Your business most likely has a long-term strategy, and business and marketing plans (probably documented, and regularly reviewed), which set out the tactics you'll use to achieve your objectives.  You may or may not report the relevant metrics to a group of stakeholders, or use the process to measure your own performance versus business goals.

If the online environment features in your business and marketing plans, then it is extremely important to analyse your business drivers and identify where technology development dovetails and integrates with the 'rest' of your business. At the very least, you need a document which identifies the competitive environment you wish to address, the key requirements of the systems and processes involved, the timeframes for delivery and how you hope to implement them.