What would you ask your MIS's MD?

[vikpaw]

I'll be at the BETT show next week, and will get a chance to speak to some high level people, so:

If you had 10 mins to talk to the MD / Product Manager of your MIS what would you talk about / ask them?
You can't necessarily waste time talking about problems or unique issues, but what would you want to know?

Some of my initial ideas:

Looking at where we are today is this where you expected to be?
What developments are coming in the future?
Where do you see the market in 5/10/20 years time?
How will new technology be utilised?
How is the development resource / budget split across the various product areas?
Is interoperability between systems high on the agenda?
Which part of the software is developing the most?
What extra areas do you see the company expanding into?
With more and more competition in the market, what makes your MIS the one to choose?

What would you like to know? I've not mentioned any particular MIS to try to avoid any really software specific questions, but if you have them, please post, as some things are very unique.

[nephilim]

Why is there such a long period between OS/office releases and their adaptation to them. They have access to RTM products so why does it take so long to make the tweak when RTM is usually out for 3-6 months before public release for this type of thing!

[pete]

It would involve cross-browser support and testing.
I'd also be interested in how support/development and training budgets (for the helldesk) are split between products. There are often disconnects between where I expect a product to be (support/dev/helldesk-wise) and where it actually is, especially if I jump from one product to another less-used product.

[sparkeh]

One question: Why can't we have an msi for SIMS deployment?

[sted]

One question: Why can't we have an msi for SIMS deployment?

or why cant it run as a web app/run the main app from a mapped drive on a server so you dont need to keep fixing the ****er when it decides not to work on 1/2 the schools pcs for no obvious reason

[CyberNerd]

When will you make this an operating system independent Web application? It is long overdue.

[sparkeh]

or why cant it run as a web app/run the main app from a mapped drive on a server so you dont need to keep fixing the ****er when it decides not to work on 1/2 the schools pcs for no obvious reason

Even better!
I wanna change my question

[Michael]

When will you make this an operating system independent Web application? It is long overdue.

I have to agree with CyberNerd here. Good question

[GREED]

When will you make this an operating system independent Web application? It is long overdue.

Very good question. Come see me on J6 and I might just show you.

[GREED]

I'll be at the BETT show next week, and will get a chance to speak to some high level people, so:

If you had 10 mins to talk to the MD / Product Manager of your MIS what would you talk about / ask them?
You can't necessarily waste time talking about problems or unique issues, but what would you want to know?

Some of my initial ideas:

Looking at where we are today is this where you expected to be?
What developments are coming in the future?
Where do you see the market in 5/10/20 years time?
How will new technology be utilised?
How is the development resource / budget split across the various product areas?
Is interoperability between systems high on the agenda?
Which part of the software is developing the most?
What extra areas do you see the company expanding into?
With more and more competition in the market, what makes your MIS the one to choose?

What would you like to know? I've not mentioned any particular MIS to try to avoid any really software specific questions, but if you have them, please post, as some things are very unique.

Vik I have to say your last question there is the top: Just why should you buy from them? Even worse, what will you do to help with the transition between systems?

Some others I think of:

> What connectivity do you have with 3rd parties? What connectivity do you have with Learning Management Systems?
> What do your students get out of this system? (That is why we are all working, right?)
> What innovation does your software have over the others?
> How do you make staff lives easier with your system?

[CyberNerd]

Very good question. Come see me on J6 and I might just show you.

It could save us a fortune in forced MS updates

[FragglePete]

A question to ask;

"Why is it your company was the only software company that forced Schools to relicense your software at a very high cost when they converted to an Academy?"

Pete

[GREED]

A question to ask;

"Why is it your company was the only software company that forced Schools to relicense your software at a very high cost when they converted to an Academy?"

Pete

Can I be there when you ask that director the question?

[Sivadam]

I would not ask him anything that I would not feel free to ask at any time. No need to do that at a public event!

[GREED]

Mike!! Long time no speak! Are you coming to BETT??