View, print or download Outr.Net's Wireless Application Scorecard

 

Wireless Application Scorecard: How does your project measure up?

Productivity enhancements, establishing competitive advantage, generating new revenues or emphasizing a cutting-edge image are all enticing reasons for your company embarking on wireless application development. But what steps are you taking to ensure your wireless project meets the goals youíve set out to accomplish? Do you know how to recognize and disarm wireless development landmines?

The answers could be ìnoneî and ìnoî if youíre like most companies dealing with new technology initiatives. Youíre learning as you go, charting new ground, hoping to stay in control and on course through an unmarked technology minefield. 

This is especially true with wireless applications, because the industry is still in its infancy. Odds are your project will come up against a number of wireless pitfalls Top Ten Pitfalls of Wireless Application Development, some of which you may not have encountered previously. These could be as simple as not fully understanding the implications of  choosing a particular wireless device; or as critical as underestimating the security needs of your wireless application.

If youíve got some wireless expertise to fall back on, encountering a few pitfalls may not be a major issue. If expertise is lacking, there are experts to help you avoid becoming just another wireless application casualty. But the real issue is not your expertise ñ or lack thereof ñ itís whether youíre capable of recognizing if and when your project is in jeopardy.

Any wireless project could spiral quickly out of control, impacting budgets, deadlines and success - even with an experienced IT development team. Thatís why itís critical to have an early-warning mechanism in place that objectively measures your projectís progress and assesses its probability of success. 

Making the grade

If you donít have an evaluation or measurement tool to assess your level of schedule and budget risk, you need to build one. Or use the Outr.Net Wireless Application Scorecard  for starters and take it from there. 

Outr.Netís Scorecard is one way to evaluate and keep tabs on wireless application projects. Itís our assessment of the necessary activity steps ñ 25 in all ñ that need specific attention during the wireless development process. Most are wireless considerations that fall outside the scope of normal IT projects. Examples include: assessing the pros and cons of thin-client, native or hybrid wireless application development; or designing application specific protocols to maximize efficiency and reduce cost. And even if your initial wireless project follows a ìKISSî philosophy, the effort spent covering each of these steps will save you countless hours down the road.

Why use a ìscorecardî designed for wireless specifically? Because in the short-term, wireless will remain a slightly different development animal. By some estimates ñ wireless Internet applications will reach $37 billion by 2002; evaluation and measurement should therefore be a part of every wireless application development project.

Integrating a scorecard into your existing and future wireless application projects enhances accountability. Itís a great way to truly know if your project is on track. And it might provide a little more to quiz project manager ìPhilî about next time he tells you things are going ìgreat!î But more importantly, a scorecard can contribute to the corporate bottom line in better predicting and guaranteeing a return on your wireless investment.

Everything to gain

Most companies are just beginning to consider how wireless can benefit their business -- but the success stories are out there. Wireless can make your mobile salespeople more productive and help bring in new business. It can also provide a better way to serve and retain some of the customers you already have. And lets face it, who doesnít think wireless looks cutting edge?

But realizing those gains ñ and achieving your projected ROI ñ isnít going to happen on its own. If the project schedule slips or cost overruns mount, you need to know. Intervention at the right moment and with the appropriate response can make the difference between a wireless application wonder or just another budget-consuming technology trial.

So use Outr.Netís Scorecard to monitor and assess your wireless application development progress. Give yourself the best chance possible to accomplish the business goals you set out to achieve and deliver on your projected ROI. 

And finally, if you canít seem to consistently score a passing grade on the evaluation, get some external assistance from an experienced wireless consultant and/or developer. They have a track record to get the job done, achieve your performance objectives and deliver an acceptable ROI. And letís face it; youíll still be cutting edge.

Written by:

Jane Somerville
Outr.Net, Inc.



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