INVESTIGATING A NEW MEDIA

INVESTIGATING A NEW MEDIA

There are several good ways to investigate new media

General considerations              

• Do the media have longevity?
  Find out what the manufacturer’s plans are for the media (upgrades and so on). If they are planning other non-compatible media to replace it then you should be wary.
• Do I have a choice of products?
  Are there several versions of the media so that you can select the one which best meets your needs? Some media come with everything, which can be expensive, whilst media that come in different flavours are often cheaper than the full-blown media and easier to use.
• Is the media available now?
  Is the media still under development or is it available now. Be wary when looking at media which are under development, as promises of usability and functionality are not always met.
• What are the future enhancements to the media going to be?
  What plans does the manufacturer have for the media or compatible enhancement media?
• How accessible is the media?
  Is the media portable, easy to move around and transport for exhibitions and so on?
• Is the media reliable?
  Talk to others to see if they have had problems with the media.
• Is the media similar to other media already in use?
  Similar media to those already in use will be easier to adapt to quickly due to an acquired familiarity.
• Is the media global?
  If you need to deliver your information to other subsidiary companies or to overseas customers the importance of global media becomes an important feature.
• Do other companies support the media with plug-ins?
  Some software products license third party companies to develop additional functions to work with the media. This is a good indication that the media is proven and has a longevity.
• Will your customers accept the media?
  Tell your customers that you are in the process of reviewing a new media and request their thoughts. This discussion may well have a big impact on whether to go ahead and implement a new media. Your customer may even have already carried out some initial reviews of the media, which they may be willing to share with you.

Report

Having completed the other two stages it is time to document your findings. This serves several purposes but the key ones are:

• To give a record of findings which you can share with others

• To help to sell your case when seeking budgets to go ahead and implement

The report may be as formal or informal as needed but bear in mind that the report can be used as a basis for all future reviews and provide a comparison document against future media.

The report may typically include:

• Summary of findings
• Identification of the impact on end-users and internal staff
• Review of the balance of benefits vs. costs
• Recommendation (reject or accept)

Implementation

Once you have decided that a particular new media is the right one for your company then you should be committed to implementing it. Some media may need a long time to implement, meaning that during the implementation stage another new media may appear on the market that can do the job equally as well or better. When you make your choice ensure that you have reviewed it fully and go with it. If we all waited for that next new media ‘just around the corner’ then we would never change, and remember change is an integral part of our business function and means we stay competitive.

  By Segesela Blandina 

      BAPRM 42663