Just another day out wine tasting in Spain. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com
Picking Vendors from RFPs Or Wine Tasting in Spain
It’s a beautiful afternoon, sun is shining and decisions have to be made…red or white? Oh wait, I mean, it’s time to review those RFP binders for the new IT system that’s going to revolutionize how your company operates. What could be more fun than reading responses from vendors that don’t answer your questions directly, didn’t take your request for information seriously and are pushing a strong sales message without really understanding the business problem you’re tasked with solving?
Going out wine tasting around Spain I’m sure isn’t the least bit tempting. Nope. Not at all. Stop reading now. Go back to your slick binders.
Picking Vendors from RFPs | Wine Tasting in Spain | |
The site | Wherever you’re most comfortable reading those 100 page responses + appendices | Somewhere in Spain (you’ll figure it out when you get there) |
Allows You to Take a Break From | Your ¨real job¨ which you still have to keep up with | Driving…you’ll need a designated driver after a day in the vineyards |
Why You’re Doing It | Time for that fancy new IT system! | No occasion, just want to taste the local libations |
Funnest part | An answer to a question that isn’t a generic formulaic answer | Finding that one bottle that you want to take with you (maybe even a case) |
The conversation | Do they run on SQL servers or is it UNIX-based? | ¨Which one do you like best?¨ ¨Is that blackberry I taste?¨ |
The reference material | The vendor ¨scorecard¨ to judge if the vendors ¨meet your business requirements¨ | The bottles of wine in front of you |
Next Best Alternative | Your job’s normal responsibilities | The vineyard next door |
A drink after will… | …be necessary | …be a port wine |
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