You're dreaming about a new software purchase and you think to yourself, "I don't want to miss out on any important features." So you scan vendor literature and websites for ideas... then load up the list of items you'd like to have with all the best stuff, right?

This is a bad idea for several reasons.

First, suppliers can tell a wishlist from a solid requirements document. The most likely reaction is that your wishlist will be ignored. "But why?" you wonder. The reason is very practical. Responding to a request for proposal (RFP) takes time and effort. Suppliers know that they are going to meet competition, so they want to put their best foot forward. This requires time and expertise to understand the requirements and tailor their proposal to fit your needs. But when your needs are wide-ranging and fuzzy (as are most wishlists), they know that you are "just fishing" and not a serious buyer. They simply won't invest their time on what they view as a low-yield opportunity.

Second, you can drown yourself in supplier questions. Once you open the gate with a poorly defined request for proposal, the clarifying questions will come flooding in. How will you handle them? The questions will differ from one supplier to the next, so everyone you talk to will get a little different version of your needs. The result is a mixed basket of fruit as explained in the next point.

Third, the suppliers who *do* bother to respond will respond with apples, oranges, and even some grapefruit. Since the requirements are not clear and tight, the proposals that you get back will suffer from the same fuzziness and wide-ranging malady that the wishlist has. The result is wasted time on everyone's part.

If what you are trying to do is educate yourself on possible solutions, the proper approach is to issue a request for information (RFI). This offers vendors an opportunity to send you their standard brochures and marketing material, along with ballpark pricing so that you can "get a feel" for the solutions.

Finally, any consultants lurking in the wings who *could* offer targeted expertise and potentially save you a ton of time will not react to your wishlist for the same reason as the suppliers... they recognize the amateur do-it-yourself approach and they don't want to get involved with companies who shortcut important processes. As a result you miss out on expert advice and the steerage that comes from hard-won experience.