Wireless Application Scorecard: How does your project measure up? (08.03.01)

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 you’ve set out to accomplish? Do you know how to recognize and disarm wireless development landmines?

The answers could be “none” and “no” if you’re like most companies dealing with new technology initiatives. You’re 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, some of which you may not have encountered previously (ie: Top Ten Pitfalls of Wireless Application Development). 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 you’ve 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 - or lack thereof - it’s whether you’re 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. That’s why it’s critical to have an early-warning mechanism in place that objectively measures your project’s progress and assesses its probability of success.

Making the grade

If you don’t 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 (you can download this scorecard @ http://www.outr.net/newsletter_scorecard.htm).

Outr.Net’s Scorecard is one way to evaluate and keep tabs on wireless application projects. It’s our assessment of the necessary activity steps - 25 in all - 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 “KISS” philosophy, the effort spent covering each of these steps will save you countless hours down the road.

Why use a “scorecard” designed for wireless specifically? Because in the short-term, wireless will remain a slightly different development animal. By some estimates - 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. It’s a great way to truly know if your project is on track. And it might provide a little more to quiz project manager “Phil” about next time he tells you things are going “great!” 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 doesn’t think wireless looks cutting edge?

But realizing those gains - and achieving your projected ROI - isn’t 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.Net’s 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 can’t 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 let’s face it; you’ll still be cutting edge.

Get a Grip on Wireless... Selecting the Right Device - Part Two

About Outr.Net

Outr.Net (www.outr.net) specializes in the design and implementation of customized, end-to-end wireless applications. The company’s experience with a variety of devices, networks, middleware and infrastructure expedites the delivery of production-quality wireless solutions. Outr.Net applications maximize end-user productivity and reduce operating costs by leveraging the capabilities of programmable wireless devices.

Outr.Net provides assistance at any stage of the application development process and delivers turnkey wireless solutions as well as individual system components. The company has real-world experience in many vertical markets, including finance, travel, medical, dispatch, sales force automation, enterprise solutions and more.