I hope that everyone that reads this reads it because it provides something of interest or something useful. I continue to get tons of emails that are cast in the form of news or blog items, but are actually just advertisements. When those have subject lines that imply that there’s news in the email but there isn’t I hit the DELETE button quickly and eventually the name winds up on my Junk Mail list. I usually don’t bother to unsubscribe, because they’d know I’ve done it.
If you don’t get something useful from this, be sure to email me and tell me what you’d like to see covered. I’m always looking for ideas. And I don’t want you to unsubscribe.
Monthly Archives: April 2011
1099 Bill Signed
Perhaps you’ve been following the news: the 1099 reporting rules that were part of the healthcare bill have been repealed. These rules would have expanded 1099 requirements to include almost all vendors whether incorporated or not. This is at least something that is changing by staying the same.
1099 Repeal Passed
We’ve been following the 1099 reporting change issue that was included in the Healthcare Act. The US Senate has now passed the repeal, which is headed for President Obama’s desk. All indications are that the President intends to sign the bill. Small and mid-sized businesses can sigh in relief. I’m not so sure what Congress intends to do to bridge the revenue gap left by the repeal of this measure. Seems to me that the original estimate was counting on this to raise in the range of 40 billion for health care. I didn’t check the number, so I could be off.
Senate Approves 1099 Repeal, Sends Bill to President
Failed ERP Projects – Rip and Replace
Rip and replace is the most dramatic way an ERP software project can be terminated. I’ve spoken to a number of businesses over the years that have attempted to implement one or more ERP solutions and ultimately decided to revert back to their old system, if possible.
The worst client situation I have run into was a business in Alabama that had attempted to implement no fewer than three solutions at a cost of almost a half-million dollars, but ultimately switched back to their old system. I spoke to a Tennessee business this week that had gotten off cheaper, they had tried two systems and spent over $100,000. They were still on their twenty-year-old obsolete, custom system.
These businesspeople aren’t unwise; they aren’t stupid. They simply purchased software that would not handle the business transactions they need to handle.
Notice, too, that I’m not talking about difficult or over-budget projects. These types of projects are all-too-frequent, and can usually be traced to an ever-expanding scope (scope creep) and problems with the management of the project (client or vendor management problems).
There’s one common fact in all of the rip and replace clients I’ve ever talked to: Not a single one had ever done a written needs analysis.
Here’s another fact: in 25 years of practice, I’ve never proposed a system that was ripped and replaced because I ALWAYS do a written needs analysis for the client.
You can find a series of podcasts on doing needs analysis on the ceoTechCast podcast site, beginning here: http://ceotechcast.com/2007/03/show_3_needs_analysis_how_and.html.
You might also find the Guide To Selecting Business Software (our most popular book) useful.
Do give me a ring if I can help. My number is 901.452.4585 x 118.