Which of the following would be least appropriate to include on a multidisciplinary computer system selection and evaluation team?

• A. An executive oversight member
• B. A functional representative
• C. A technical representative
• D. A customer service representative of the prospective vendor

Answer: (D)

In selecting and evaluating a computer system, you want a cross-disciplinary team that represents the organization’s diverse needs while staying independent from vendor influence. An executive oversight member brings governance, strategic alignment, and accountability to the process, ensuring the project stays aligned with organizational goals and available resources. A functional representative ensures that the business processes, workflows, and user requirements are accurately captured and evaluated against how the system will actually be used. A technical representative contributes expertise on architecture, integration, data standards, security, and interoperability, so the solution fits with the existing IT environment and technical constraints.

Having a customer service representative from the prospective vendor would undermine that independence. As part of the vendor, they have an inherent interest in promoting their own product, which can introduce bias into evaluations, compromises objectivity, and creates a real or perceived conflict of interest. The evaluation should be conducted by internal stakeholders or neutral observers to ensure fair, needs-driven assessment. This is why the vendor’s customer service representative is least appropriate for the multidisciplinary team.