sascom voices - The sascom magazine blog

In May 1999, I moved out of my townhome (Reihenhaus) disposed of a car, TV, and other worldly goods to take on a job at SAS Europe HQ in Heidelberg, Germany. It was intended to be personal and career growth that would ONLY last 2 years. When I left Heidelberg in April 2004, almost 5 years later, I got more growth than I bargained for.

Learning how to travel in countries where I don't know the language; searching in grocery stores for products that don't exist (baking soda); leasing an apartment using a German contract, using socialized healthcare services where I don't know the doctors; buying 220v appliances that I'll never use upon my return to America.

Germany has this fascinating cultural phenomenon of kitchen swapping. If you are planning to buy or rent a German apartment, it usually comes with a “bare” kitchen. “Bare” is indeed the right word as the kitchen may be nothing more than four bare walls with roughed-in plumbing and electrical connections—the kitchen sink may be missing! You take your kitchen appliances AND cabinets with you when you move out! You don't worry about the dimensions of the old kitchen to the new one. You cram-it into your next home or cut it down. A kitchen, with cabinets and appliances, can cost upwards of 10,000 Euro.

Buying a German kitchen, was a difficult investment for me. The operative word is investment. I have to use it and then sell it. I can't take it with me upon my return to America. At this point, I'm expecting my employment to last only 2 years so kitchen dependability and brand were minor factors. I don't want to burn the place down with a cheap purchase, but I don't intend to hold the product for the long-term. I want a name brand product, with a warranty for resell, but I need something good enough for now. It's a balance of quality and cost; it's a sacrifice of flexibility for affordability.

I find parallels between an SMB software purchase and my kitchen/electronic purchases in Germany. When considering the purchase of a TV, vacuum cleaner, oven or refrigerator, I try to set basic criteria for every purchase.

1. Do I need it now (today vs. next month)?
2. How much will I use it (acquire upper-end or lower-end product)?
3. Does it have the features I need (VHS/DVD combo, High-Def, etc)?

SMBs face a similar conundrum. Some search for a good-enough-for-now(GEFN) solution, lacking a view of a long-term. It appears that some SMBs only intend to be around for a few years and leave. Do SMB want to get into the habit of only investing to fix a problem at the moment- or do they want a solution (or kitchen) that can grow as they go?

While many companies are guilty of a GEFN solution, SMBs can't afford to pull & replace technology. Understandably, some don't know where the company is going long-term and others have change thrust upon them. Would it make sense that companies invest in solutions with stability, scalability and flexibility more often than just another GEFN?