Carelessness Can Damage Your Career

Working with vendors can be both challenging and rewarding for even the most experienced educational technologist, let alone those who are new to the management component of the profession. While vendors provide both necessary products and information, some educational technologists have gotten into serious trouble, even to the point of having their career ruined, by inappropriate or unsuitable behavior with vendors.

These guidelines are offered in the spirit of taking advantage of what vendors have to offer and keeping you out of trouble.

Avoid the appearance of impropriety

In this day of instant and incessant news, how your relationship with a vendor looks can be almost as damaging as what actually takes place. Therefore, it behooves you to avoid becoming too friendly with one vendor, or always asking for information from the same vendor, or accepting too many gifts — even the simple throw away pencils and cups — from the same vendor.

Vendors are in business to make money

There is nothing inherently wrong with this. However, too many educational technologists, not wise in the ways of the business world, fail to consider this factor when interpreting the actions of the firms with which they do business. Consequently, they are prone to take compliments and praise thrown their way by those competing for their business too seriously .

Thus, it is essential to be skeptical about compliments, praise and other ego-stroking from vendors and their associates. Similarly, don't get your nose bent out of shape when these upbeat remarks seem to disappear after the sale has successfully or unsuccessfully concluded: It's just business!

Treat all vendors fairly and equitably

Many educational technologists are unable to hold the line on this critical recommendation. The key factor is to avoid giving any vendor an unfair competitive advantage over others. This in turn means that just because you like one vendor more than another, or that you know one better, or your child goes to school with a vendor's child, you cannot provide that vendor with information that you do not provide to all other vendors.

Not only is doing so both unprofessional and unethical, but in some instances may be illegal as well. Furthermore, such actions can cause embarrassment to you and your district, as well as impede the entire purchasing process.

In many instances, as I would be getting ready for a procurement, I would inform potential vendors, even those whom I had done business with for years, that I would no longer communicate with them and that they should direct all questions and queries to the purchasing department.

Be aware of district purchasing procedures and policies

Make certain you understand what your district and state permits regarding your actions with vendors. Some districts may allow a vendor to take you to lunch while others do not. Similarly, some give you greater latitude than others in accepting equipment or software for review or loan. Since these policies may change over time, it may not be a bad idea to periodically meet with your purchasing director to ensure that your knowledge of them is current.

While working with vendors is both a necessary and rewarding facet of every technology leader's job, it can also be a slippery slope which, if not handled properly and cautiously, can result in the damaged reputation of both the technology program and the technology leader.


About the author: Phil Brody worked in public education for more than 40 years, during most of which he functioned as an educational technologist. He is currently an education technology consultant.