Selecting the right vendor is critical to the success of an IT
project. A dysfunctional relationship between the vendor and the
customer, or just one that is not a good fit, can hinder the
progress of the project and ultimately jeopardise its
completion.
In part three of this series, Why IT Projects fail, we discuss
the process of vendor selection and management of vendors. To catch
up on the other articles in the series, click here.
Selecting a vendor often starts with issuing a Request for
Proposal ("RFP"), and a well drafted RFP
sets the tone of the relationship between the parties. The RFP must
contain sufficient details about the project to ensure that
prospective vendors understand the service requirements. The RFP
should clearly set out the scope of work, evaluation criteria, and
any terms and conditions that would apply to the provision of the
services. A poorly drafted RFP will affect the success of the
project and will likely result in misunderstandings
