Requirements Definition and System Selection
Selecting a new information system is a major decision for healthcare organizations, especially in this era of highly advanced functionality. These decisions typically result in significant investments of time and money, and it is likely that an organization will be in a relationship with their core software vendors for many years.
Because of this, the process for arriving at a vendor decision must be sound. We believe that there are two critical success factors for any system selection project: objectivity and broad buy-in.
The vendor decision must be based on objective criteria rather than a subjective, “gut feel” point of view. Software should be evaluated against a set of requirements established through a detailed evaluation
In addition, the selection decision making process must involve the correct people so that it is viewed as a sound decision and is widely accepted throughout the organization. Because implementation requires significant support and commitment from multiple departments and individuals, an organization cannot afford to have key resources who feel that the vendor selection was done without appropriate input.
Cumberland’s approach to system selection projects accomplishes these success factors. Our approach is based on years of experience gained in dozens of successful projects.
