As my business grows, slowly but surely, my need for flexibility in searching and information resources is increasing. Luckily, through AIIP I have access to some great deals on the best sources out there.
My problem is which solution will give me the best bang for my buck. That is a question that all knowledge workers ask themselves. Some organizations are lucky enough to have librarians and information professionals who investigate the choices and make the decisions. Other organizations go with their own methods of choosing the product based on price, past use, the vendor who calls the most often. Sometimes, that’s not the best method.
I’m currently being pursued by Thomson Reuters. Is that my best choice? I’m not so sure. My information problems are much different than they used to be. I have to review the solutions available from a totally new perspective. Luckily, this is a part of my work that I really enjoy. The pros the cons, the prices, the data itself, the ease of use. So many factors must be taken into account in order to achieve the optimal solution.
Now I’m ready for the courting to begin. Test drives are my favorite way to analyze my choices and make my decisions. Luckily, my experience in the industry gives me a great first hand knowledge of the reputation and developments for each of the players.
If you are seeking a solution for your own organization, make sure you turn on the radio and drive the car, so to speak. I remember my mother buying a car and bringing it home, when I got in and turned the radio on…there was no sound. When Mom confessed she hadn’t even driven the car before buying it I looked at her astounded, you might be able to do that with a new car, but not a used one. So take an info problem and run it through the proposed solution. If it doesn’t solve a sample it won’t be a good choice for daily business.
