I just sat through a 40-min webinar presented by one of the world's largest independent software vendors. They were presenting on a break-through product that promises to simplify business and IT. But their solution came across as complex -- very wordy slides combined with very wordy narration.

System integrators are often like this, too. There's not much to differentiate them when it comes to, for example, ERP services. So how do you decide which one to choose as your partner?

You can ask the prospective partner "Why should I choose you?" or "What makes your approach better than the others'?" Ultimately, though, it probably comes down to how the prospective partner articulates their solution -- the way they present it suggests the way they'll deliver it.

• Are they wordy and is their presentation complex?
• Do they bring a bunch of people to the meeting with nebulous titles?
• Is there disagreement between their representatives on some points?

This may well indicate the way they'll approach a work-transition and the ultimate delivery.

• Are they succinct and do they lay out their solution with few words, presenting mainly with images and few slides?
• Are you able to process/grasp their solution as they present vs. telling yourself you'll have to sit down later and review the slides to "get it"?
• Does it make sense to you?

Chances are, then, that their approach is sufficiently well thought-out and simple to be effectively and successfully executed.

Simplicity is the ultimate elegance.