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I'm a front end developer eager to enhance the relationship between designers and developers. I’ve been using an online collaboration app for a personal project. I’m completely satisfied with this tool however I would like to promote it in my corporation. This tool helps me doing things faster however I couldn’t estimate the time saved.
How would you convince your boss to pay for a productivity tool if you can’t show him numbers and money saved?
This is a major issue in IT; we face it all the time. I would personally recommend several things.
In other words, don't just mention out of the blue, "Say, we need to upgrade our servers," or pop it on him while he happens to be walking through your section. Either write him a detailed e-mail (concise, mind you!), request a short meeting, or even write or print it up on paper. Your boss will take something more seriously if (s)he can see that you take it seriously.
This is a key point that I have found quite effective. It works best in a real interview, which I try to steer something along these lines.
Boss:
I really don't see the need for this equipment. It doesn't appear to produce much if any ROI (Return on Investment).
Employee:
Mr. XXX, how often do you replace your cell-phone?
Boss: (usually a bit surprised)
Well, usually I replace it every 2 years, but what does that have to do with anything? That's a personal expense, not designed to produce an ROI.
Employee:
Mr. XXX, my point exactly. I do the same thing. Why? Because it's more convenient to be up to date. Because the newer equipment usually works better. Because the newer equipment should save time. Not because there is a definite or precise ROI, just because it is a useful tool.
It's the same way with our servers. We don't need new servers; the old ones are still working. However, it would improve our company, in that it is more convenient to be up to date, it usually saves time, works better, and overall simply improves company morale and spirit.
Furthermore, in your programmers' eyes, new equipment tends to make the company appear a more desirable place to work, which will give you more satisfied employees and a greater hiring capacity.
As I did in the last paragraph of that interview, that link doesn't need to be financial. But whatever it is, you should be able to demonstrate to your employer how (s)he and the company will benefit from this newer equipment.
I would suggest a rather simple demonstration along the lines of:
One of the issue is there are a ton of free libraries out there for most modern technologies, especially if we are talking web or mobile applications, so you will have to make a strong case.
It all comes down to cost, and the time to market potential savings.
If this is a collaboration app, you may want to discuss this with those you'll be using it with. That may or may not include your boss. Others may be able to add to your argument and find benefits you didn't think of.
Without any data, suggest a trial period, so you can get some. In the mean time, you should establish some baseline data on how long things take for you to do them now. It could be a matter of tracking how much time you spend on similar tasks.
Although some may not see this as objective, have a list of situations where having such a tool would have improved the process. Of course there are time restrictions to everything, but I would think causing a client a problem because people didn't collaborate well (sent the wrong version of a file), would add to the argument.
The key to trial periods from a manager's perspective is he won't feel like if he lets you use it and it doesn't work, he won't feel like he's stuck with it. Risk management is very important.
