CIO Review Features Function Point’s CEO, Chris Wilson

Next month in CIO Review, Chris Wilson, CEO & President of Function Point Productivity Software, shares his knowledge on methods to mitigate business challenges in the project resource management software industry. Wilson explores how the company’s two most pressing problems—standing out in an intensely competitive sector, and securing staff in the fast-paced, high tech world—can be addressed to ensure profitability.

Function Point recently celebrated its 19th anniversary, and with almost two decades of experience at the helm, Wilson has developed a number of successful strategies to address these threats. First and foremost, he relies on the direction set by the Function Point core values of focus, respect, growth and balance, to provide a trustworthy and consistent lens through which to examine any issue.

CIO Review article

In the CIO Review article, Wilson expands on how Function Point is positioned to captivate a niche in the industry, by developing project resource management software specifically for creative agencies, design studios and internal marketing departments. The tactic of providing a unique and tailored offering is a competitive advantage when compared to task management software that is too general for the creative services market.

“There are a variety of competitors across the services that we offer,” says Wilson. “No one is really focused on that unique financial management piece, which helps us to stand out in the marketplace. We’re taking a finance first approach to profitability of a job, a client, and the utilization of team members.”

To address the company’s challenge of finding staff in the rapidly changing tech industry—in particular, hiring software engineers—Wilson discusses how critical it is to protect the company’s culture, in which a work-life balance is valued and employees are encouraged to grow. He believes that if personal growth is promoted, the company will grow too. Function Point supports this idea by granting every employee a $2000 education amount per year to contribute to further learning. He adds that to retain staff, it’s as equally important to hire those who are a good cultural fit. “We’re looking for people who are excited about coming to work, who are happy, hungry and humble,” says Wilson.

While market realities will inevitably influence strategic decision-making at Function Point, Wilson anticipates the company will continue to keep growing, through positioning itself in an industry niche, staying true to core values, and upholding a workplace culture that prioritizes a work-life balance and lifelong learning.

To learn more about Function Point’s leading all-in-one project resource management software, book a personalized demo with one of our software specialists.