"Alas, an embarrassingly large percentage of IT projects continue to fail -- and now that so many of them involve outsourcing contracts between vendors and customers who may be located on opposite sides of the world, the failures are even more likely to result in expensive litigation."
- Ed Yourdon, Guest Editor
Get the Contract Right
Many IT project failures can be traced back to poorly written contracts between vendors and clients. If the customer and developer don't understand what they've agreed to, it's a recipe for disaster.
A Contract Won't Guarantee Success
Most IT-related litigation is caused by failures in "Project Management 101. If you haven't mastered the basics, such as scope management and risk management, even a watertight contract won't save you.
Next Issue
Business Performance Management: Have We Gotten Anywhere?
Guest Editor: Vince Kellen
With the introduction of Sarbanes-Oxley, companies have a renewed -- albeit forced -- interest in quality controls, auditing standards, and documented processes, all of which generate performance management data. One could argue that the ground is fertile for continued development of business performance management (BPM). Or is it? Join us next month for a debate on the state of BPM systems. We'll discuss best practices for successful IT BPM, take a look at the art of data visualization, consider the role of the CIO, and more!
From projects that are behind schedule and overbudget to ever increasing outsourcing, it's more important than ever for IT organizations to formulate a proactive strategy to protect their IP and ensure that their outsourcing contracts won't degenerate into a litigious confrontation. In this issue, we'll explore the litigation-related trends we are likely to face over the next several years and offer proven strategies for dealing with litigation both before and after a lawsuit is filed. You'll get real-world case studies and lessons learned, best practices for minimizing risk, a checklist for acquisitions, and more!
