Vendor Evaluation & Selection Flashcards
7 cards from real CSI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Vendor Evaluation & Selection flashcards as text
A prospective vendor refuses to provide customer references during the evaluation process. How should a system integrator interpret this?
Answer: This is a significant red flag suggesting potential performance or relationship issues
Refusal to provide references is a major red flag, as reputable vendors with satisfied clients typically welcome reference checks.
In a weighted scoring model for vendor selection, criteria weights should be determined by:
Answer: Stakeholder input aligned with project priorities and organizational objectives
Weights must reflect organizational priorities and be validated through stakeholder consensus to ensure the selection aligns with business needs.
What is vendor lock-in, and why is it a concern during vendor selection?
Answer: Dependency on a single vendor's proprietary technology that makes switching costly or impractical
Vendor lock-in creates dependency that limits negotiating leverage and can result in higher long-term costs if the vendor underperforms.
Which document is typically issued before an RFP to gather market information and assess vendor interest without committing to a purchase?
Answer: Request for Information (RFI)
An RFI is a non-binding inquiry used to gather market information and assess vendor capabilities before formally issuing an RFP.
During a vendor demonstration, a product performs flawlessly on the vendor's controlled environment but struggles when tested on the client's actual infrastructure. What evaluation principle does this highlight?
Answer: Proof-of-concept testing in the actual target environment is essential for accurate evaluation
Real-world proof-of-concept (PoC) testing in the target environment exposes compatibility and performance issues not visible in controlled demos.
An organization uses a multi-vendor strategy for its IT integration. What is the primary advantage of this approach?
Answer: It reduces dependency on any single vendor and promotes competitive pricing
Multi-vendor strategies reduce single-vendor risk and create competitive pressure that can improve pricing and service quality.
Which of the following best describes a 'best-of-breed' vendor selection strategy?
Answer: Choosing the top-performing vendor in each specific functional area, regardless of whether they share a common platform
Best-of-breed selects the strongest solution in each category, optimizing individual capability at the potential cost of integration complexity.