PC Week has noted that increasing numbers of firms are utilizing an innovative way to find real-world information to sell new technologies to CEOs and CFOs who want assurance they're spending money to help the business, not financing a learning experience that may or may not be effective. By putting the technology through its paces in a lab situation, execs can judge if the technology works well or can even demonstrate minor benefits.

That's the rationale behind the Centers for Advanced Technologies (AMSCAT), a testing facility created by American Management Systems Inc., a consultancy in Fairfax, Va. The lab, created in 1993, is an applied research facility designed to increase understanding and appropriate use of emerging technologies. Clients can tap AMSCAT to conduct proof-of-concept implementations and evaluate emerging technologies in nine laboratories: Collaborative Work Environments, Database Management, Data Mining & Modeling, Distributed Computing, Electronic Commerce, Objects & Languages, Performance & Testing, Advanced User Interface & Usability Engineering, and Web Technologies.

"CIOs need to really show a business value before they invest the money. We are seeing a lot more of that type of activity," notes Shahla Butler, vice president and executive director of the center.

During the testing process, the client's real-world environment is re-created, including hardware, software and network configurations. Members from the client's IT staff work with AMSCAT's technicians to evaluate the technology with real-world examples.

IT executives, such as Ben Ng, a first vice president of the First Chicago Bank, in Chicago, are sold on the idea. "It makes sense to spend a small amount of money to make sure something is going to be a good solution," Ng says.

The cost of the AMSCAT service varies according to the particular needs of each test. But, according to Butler, the average price of a one-time assignment runs in the neighborhood of $15,000 for a week at the lab site. (Clients with long- term integration contracts automatically get use of the labs.)

Testing a technology before committing budget funds is also a good way to bring IT and the business units to a better understanding, says Greg Scholl, senior associate at Booz-Allen & Hamilton Inc., in New York. There often is a disconnect between the two groups when it comes to understanding the real benefits of investing in the "flavor of the month" technology, Scholl explains.

"Sometimes (business units) think a hot new technology will solve a major problem," he says. "This type of testing makes them look at the real issues and be more realistic about what technology can and can't do to help."