STEP 5: DETERMINE THE TECHNOLOGY APPROACH AND REFINE COSTS AND BENEFITS

In Step 2, you determined requirements for the new process. In some cases,
you can specify the technology at that point if the situation is relatively simple.
However, there may be a need for further analysis. The purpose of this step is to
define the new systems and technology and then update the costs and benefits for
the new process. You will then be in a position to make the decision to acquire a
software package or build a system.
The scope of this step includes all the hardware, network, and software components but excludes the application software decision. The application software
decision is directly affected by the direction you take here. If you select an
environment or
architecture
(technology structure) for which there are no off-
the-shelf software packages, you will do development. A guideline here is to
keep the architecture open to admit the potential of software packages. You will
be refining what you identify here as you get further into implementation.
In Steps 2 and 3, you identified general components and attempted to
estimate what was needed. This was prior to the management presentation (Step
4) where you garnered support and the endorsement to proceed. You are now in a
position to involve the IT group more directly in determining what specific systems and components are needed. The detailed list in the costing figure still applies and can be used as a starting point.