| If you are an IT consultant designing total small | | | | you will be able to do in-house. To be a real virtual |
| business solutions, choosing the right kind of voice | | | | CIO, create a technology roadmap for your |
| and data cabling for your network application, | | | | clients and be in total control of how it is |
| installing it properly and verifying compliance with | | | | executed. And be sure to communicate regularly |
| the necessary standards is the key to ensuring | | | | with any outside vendors you use throughout the |
| your clients get the most out of their technology | | | | course of any project so you are all on the same |
| investment. | | | | page. |
| If you take a casual attitude towards the design | | | | 2. Allow Ample Time for Voice and Data Cabling |
| or installation, you could cost your clients | | | | Projects. Smooth IT projects do not happen |
| unnecessary money and waste time with | | | | magically. Major systems upgrades are generally |
| unnecessary long-term troubleshooting issues and | | | | carried out over the course of several weeks and |
| devastating downtime. | | | | sometimes even several months. And when you |
| When it comes to laying the proper foundation | | | | are coordinating voice and data cabling with |
| for a reliable network, voice and data cabling is as | | | | outside vendors, you have to do a lot of |
| important as pouring a solid foundation for a | | | | advanced planning and pay close attention to a lot |
| building construction project. | | | | of interrelated details. You also have to |
| But how can you ensure you give your small | | | | understand that while you might have a specific |
| business clients the best voice and data cabling | | | | timeline in mind for completing a project, you can't |
| options that fit in with your overall solution ... | | | | always expect that other vendors will have the |
| especially if you are coordinating services with an | | | | same exact idea, or that your timeline will even |
| outside vendor and acting as their outsourced IT | | | | be reasonable for them. As an effective virtual |
| manager or virtual CIO? | | | | CIO, you need to be realistic about timelines and |
| Consider the following 3 tips that can help you be | | | | work with all members of your team to develop |
| a great "go-between" for your clients and ensure | | | | a definite plan before the start of the project. |
| your technology solutions work well for them, | | | | 3. Prepare for Potential Problems with |
| even if you are working with outside vendors for | | | | Conservative Time and Money Budgets. Seasoned |
| voice and data cabling services. | | | | virtual CIO's and project managers learn to spot |
| | | | potential problems before they evolve into major |
| 1. Map Out All the Parts of the Project and How | | | | catastrophes that can drastically increase budget |
| They Fit Together. First, you need to know how | | | | and time spent. When you are working with other |
| to get from Point A to Point B. But you also need | | | | companies that provide voice and data cabling, |
| to know all the intricacies of the steps along the | | | | you need to make sure any outside companies |
| way, even if they are not being carried out by | | | | you use are doing their jobs in the agreed-upon |
| you personally. You have to know exactly what | | | | amount of time and for the agreed-upon cost. If |
| Point A and Point B are. Then you have to figure | | | | you are watchful of every component of a big |
| out how the overall project can be broken down | | | | project, even those pieces you are not doing |
| into phases and who will be doing what, including | | | | yourself, you can handle most unexpected |
| which outside vendors you will be using and what | | | | problems efficiently and expediently. |