Tara Feld thinks this is interesting:

The Golden Rules of Vendor Selection

These vendor selection guidelines help us identify a potential match or eliminate a gross mismatch.

Rule 1: Size Matters.

The vendor size should be matched to the task at hand. You wouldn’t build a rocket launcher to kill a woodpecker; likewise, you don’t need a top-tier vendor to build a five-member QA team.

To pick a partner of the right size, start with vendors for whom the volume of your business represents between 1 and 20 percent of their revenue stream. Being above 1 percent will help you get an appropriate “attention ...