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| What
is product planning? |
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Product planning is the process of
outlining business requirements and growth plans to build a blueprint
of the products need for your company. Thinking
through your business needs before jumping into implementation eases
the installation process, and increases the likelihood that the
solution you design will match your requirements now and in
the future.
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| How do
I get started? |
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The first steps in crafting a plan are
assessing current requirements and considering how your
business will change over time. Here are some ideas to help you start
the planning process:
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Assess usage
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Consider how users will interact with the
system to define the features you need. For example, if you want to
encourage collaboration, you might want to include those specific applications.
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Gather input
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Factor the needs of the various
departments within your company into your plan. Start by asking
each group to define its requirements and specify the payback from
requested features in terms of time or money saved. For example, your
sales department might desire certain features,
while your finance department might require specific security
measures.
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Build in expansion
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Detail, to the best of your knowledge,
the direction your business is likely to take in the future. As you
think about expansion, identify plans that might affect your
needs, such as adding employees, geographic expansion, facilitating
remote work, or the integration of new applications. Doing this now
will be less expensive and time-consuming than replacing an inadequate
product later.
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Decide how to handle installation and
management
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As your solution comes into
focus, decide whether you want to install and manage it in-house or
outsource these tasks. Some products have become easier to administer
over the years, so many small companies have found that handling
management internally is increasingly cost-effective.
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Address security
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Build security features into your
plans from the get-go to protect your company's
assets. Common security precautions include
location of product, passwords, and access.
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| How
can I get the most out of the product planning process? |
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| You can enhance the foundation of your
plan by addressing other considerations that may affect the
integration, use and maintenance of your system. |
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| Do not forget Staff training |
While working with some
products are simple,
it does demand that employees adopt new habits. A training program
will encourage staffers to take full advantage of your new products features. Build training time
into your calendar, and offer follow-up sessions to
address ongoing staff challenges and concerns.
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