RFP’s; a review..

Yes, no doubt about it, I’ve been neglectful of my blog recently. It isn’t because I wanted to be, it’s just a matter of “stuffing 10 pounds in a 5 pound sack”. CARE Affiliates has been a busy operation. It also isn’t because I haven’t been writing, because I have. Just this week Sol Lederman, author of the FederatedSearchBlog posted a review I wrote about a chapter in a new book that covers using RFP’s to purchase federated search systems. I’ve long been critical of the way this profession uses RFP’s. I’ve published an article on the topic before that while now in need of updating, still outlines substantial costs and problems with these tools. I’ve suggested an approach in another article I co-published. At least one company has been formed to try and address the problem for this profession. Yet, until it gets focus on a much wider level, they’ll continue to remain a costly and inefficient purchasing tool. Everyone agrees they’re painful. I guess not yet painful enough to really do anything about it.