Section Content

The Implications of System Change

discusses the risks and opportunities associated with system change — and the implications that go far beyond that.

System Change and Relocation

discusses the most important factors, both obvious and not-so-obvious, associated with both system change and relocation.

All You Really Need To Know About Telecom

There are only three things to keep in mind when evaluating system alternatives and this brief article lays them out for you.

The Essential Questions You Should Be Asking

This article performs two valuable services:

• It identifies the questions you should be asking yourself, colleagues, and vendors about your system choices.
• And it provides the true context in which these questions should be asked.

Your Real telecom Options

There's frequently a significant difference between your full set of options and the limited number of choices vendors offer you.  This article discusses realistic alternatives that may exist and how to view them in context.  These are your alternatives and if you're going to spend your money to select one of them, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to select from as many of them as you want. Don't you agree?

What You Should Know About VoIP

This is a series of articles, as follows:

• VoIP Basics — The title is Self-explanatory.
• VoIP Myths and Reality Checks — This article dispels the vendor-driven illusions that have been created to create a mystique about this technology and its applications.
• The Promise of VoIP — This is a useful management-oriented perspective about VoIP and the future.
• For this full series of VoIP articles:

The 10 Greatest Mistakes Executives Make (When Changing Systems)

The ultimate checklist of system mistakes NOT to make.

System change inevitably involves balancing opportunities and risks.  This means both planning ahead and making sure you always have a Plan B.  This is especially true if you're relocating, in whole or in part, all at once, or in stages.  It's also valid if you're just planning to change systems in place.  Virtually nothing will be as simple as it should be, and it's never too early to prepare yourself for that. 

This is not meant to needlessly alarm you. Systems are complex and interrelated and managing that complexity in the face of inevitable change inevitably presents challenges. This is not to say that Murphy's Law holds sway.  It probably used to, but no more. Today, Murphy's Corollary (Murphy was an optimist) is closer to the truth. 

It is impossible, as many vendors try to imply, to guarantee smooth sailing. Those of you who've been in charge of projects like yours will doubtless attest to this. The best
solution is to determine your needs realistically, plan your project with care and with as much flexibility as possible, and, if appropriate, rely on professionals who've been through it many, many times before.  

The articles in this series present a multi-sided view of the risks and opportunities associated with system change. 

The first article, The implications of System Change, discusses the opportunities that go far beyond a mere switch in systems.  It also identifies the risks associated with not identifying or understanding those opportunities.

The second article, System Change and Relocation, effectively creates a checklist of the major factors to consider in these situations. It's interesting to note, for example, that a positive associated with relocating a system can be a negative when relocation is absent, and vice versa. What's most important, however, is that either situation is fraught with details that can trip you up and that will inevitably create difficulties if you believe that constant and unforeseen change will not be a factor in your project.  Vendors like to put prospects at ease. A good consultant, in our opinion, should prepare the client for what's to come so the client can anticipate developments and make realistic decisions. Which would you prefer?

These first three articles and the others listed to the right constitute various aspects of our perspective and approach to systems change.  Please click on the green text for a description of each article without having to leave the page. Links to the actual articles are provided with the details, and of course the articles are listed on the sitemap to the left as well.  The active link is always in red in the sitemap to anchor where you are at any time.

When you're finished with this entire Changing Systems? section, we suggest you look at the other articles in the category Communications Consulting for reasons we explain in the article on that page.

All the above is about what we do and potentially can do for you.  Our philosophy and overall methodology is outlined in The Teleconvergence Approach mentioned above. For the methodology specifically relevant to system change, please see The Teleconvergence Approach to System Selection.  And at your convenience, please do learn more about us, especially the Teleconvergence FAQ.

As always, the sitemap to the left shows you where you are and what other nearby reading choices exist.