IT projects are a normal aspect of small and mid-sized enterprise (SME) life. To increase the chances for ongoing IT project success, review core IT project and project management basics.

Microsoft released its Windows Vista operating system at the tail end of 2006. Many organizations opted to wait until Microsoft released Service Pack 1 before adopting it. On the eve of SP1 general release, Info-Tech queried early adopters about the motivating factors for Windows Vista adoption. Understand the influential factors to peer organizations before defining the Vista strategy.

Some small enterprises are becoming increasingly dependent on the performance of wide-area data networks or the capacity or quality of their Internet connection. The management of data networks is generally an unfamiliar process for these organizations. IT must understand which network performance measures are relevant to ensure proper service and to determine the levels of performance that are...

Although countless enterprises utilize vendor RFIs, C-level executives do not generally enlist them as a part of their daily toolkit. The judicious use of RFIs will help C-level executives stay abreast of technology and develop business relationships with strategic vendors. They also help overworked C-Levels make better technology related decisions and free-up significant time for other tasks.

Hosted VoIP represents a compelling enterprise IP Telephony (IPT) option that is being increasingly explored by smaller organizations. Considering the current bloat within the hosted VoIP market and the risks associated with outsourcing telephony services, IT decision makers need to be particularly prudent when evaluating potential service providers and offerings.

Enterprises are often reluctant to enter into long-term contracts with telecom carriers. The price volatility of carrier services over the past five years has left many enterprises feeling as though short-term contracts would have been more economical. Knowing how to negotiate long-term carrier contracts is beneficial for the enterprise, and can result in competitive price assurance.

Achievement of high quality network services depends on the establishment of appropriate service level targets with network service providers and holding the providers accountable to these targets. Follow these guidelines to establish appropriate service targets, ensure associated monitoring and reporting, and define material financial penalties for missed targets that motivate providers to meet...

Hosted VoIP services allow enterprises to capture the powerful productivity advantages of IP telephony without a significant administrative burden or upfront capital expenditure. To ensure the success of a hosted VoIP deployment, enterprises must verify network readiness prior to implementation and make plans to immediately integrate new VoIP features into business operations.

Small enterprises deploying IP Telephony (IPT) face many planning and implementation challenges, one of which is end-user training. Ensuring that users are comfortable using the new system and are able to leverage new productivity features is an important project component. Take a formal approach to end-user instruction and follow these recommended IPT training methods.