Organizational skepticism about the virtues of a new technology idea are likely to run, at least in part, in direct proportion to the economic climate in which the company finds itself. When times are tough, it is essential that managers follow the basic rules of winning buy-in from key constituencies for their IT investment ideas. Here's how.

First, remember what buy-in means. It is not acquiescence or compliance but enthusiastic, active support for an investment proposal from relevant employee populations in the organization.