project. Making sure the right thing is in the right place at the right time requires good relationships with dependable suppliers, standardized requests for proposals (RFPs), timely evaluation, and due diligence followed by supervision and acceptance of timely deliverables. Analysis of Spending and Resource Utilization Knowing where you stand with all facilities and resources in a so-called fast-paced environment requires stopping to analyze where the business is at on a periodic basis. Good management of financial resources requires good budgeting in the first place, but good budgeting doesn't lead to good performance without con- stant attention and awareness of needs against available resources, spare capacity, and what's in the pipeline for both. Supplier Evaluation and Selection Serving a customer is about the only thing more valuable than having strong working relationships with a range of competent, dependable suppliers. Achieving the lowest possible cost is best served with competition. Open, fair, and honest competition happens when suppliers are engaged in a balance between informal give- and-take as well as formal RFPs and organized presentations and proposal responses. Suppliers are where the new technology comes from. Understanding their value chain, timing, and content can pro- vide marketplace intelligence that money can't buy. 11 MANAGING COST OF EQUIPMENT FACILITIES AND SERVICES Development of Annual Budget and Business Plan No single department should undertake to strike an annual budget and develop next year's business plan without consideration of cur- rent and possible communications products, services, and emerging technology. Communications technical and accounting professionals can provide invaluable insight and knowledge that will allow the line manager and the entire management chain to understand their com- petitive position and make rational, informed decisions about changing or not changing the way they do business. In addition, the CCM function should draw up an annual communi- cati