Abstract :
Participating in selecting an information technology (IT) vendor can be a great way for newly hired engineers to learn about their organization, because it allows them to see how departments work/do not work together, to hear the varied interests and concerns of multiple stakeholders, and to observe the interaction between their organization and the possible IT product vendors. At a meeting with a vendor, the newcomer may wish to "listen and learn" from colleagues, but, for more active participation, the author suggests twelve questions to put to the vendor. Broadly speaking, these questions address three issues: 1) whether the vendor understand the buyer\´s objectives; 2) whether this vendor is offering the best solution; 3) what challenges are likely to be encountered if the vendor\´s recommendations are implemented.
