Working with Vendors

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide insight on, and the perspective of, vendors to imaging informatics professionals. The areas covered will include vendor selection and an overview of the vendor selection process; management structure of organizations and factors that impact how a product/technology is developed.

Self-Assessment Questions

• 1. Which of these best describes a request for information?

  • a. Contains detailed information about the customer’s institution

  • b. Sent to a large number of potential vendors

  • c. Follows the request for proposal

  • d. Determines the vendor of choice

• 2. Which of these best describes a request for proposal?

  • a. Contains detailed information about the customer’s institution

  • b. Sent to a large number of potential vendors

  • c. Determines which vendors receive a request for information

  • d. Determines the vendor of choice

• 3. Which of the following is LEAST influential in product development?

  • a. Customer requests

  • b. Market direction

  • c. Site visits

  • d. Product release cycle

• 4. Which of the following is LEAST important to assess on a site visit?

  • a. Compare clinical workflow between institutions

  • b. Discuss installation issues

  • c. Show interaction with other information systems

  • d. Compare pricing between institutions

• 5. Imagine that your institution is a host site for a site visit. What issues would you discuss with the visitors? What software would you show them that is unique or unusual in your environment?

• 6. When you are deciding upon a vendor of choice, what aspects of the vendor’s business factor into that decision