In many organizations, getting a deal approved can be a long and complex process. In the B2C world, we've become accustomed to instant decisions and fast turnaround. For example, I recently upgraded my iPhone to the latest model because I'm on the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program. If you haven't seen it, you get a credit agreement for your phone, pay in installments, and then a year later can trade in the old phone for the latest and greatest.

In the course of the upgrade, I had to be credit-checked. While the Apple Business Team consultant who assisted me sent my contract through for authorization, I waited for what felt like forever. While I wondered what would happen if I was rejected, I started thinking whether I could afford to buy the phone outright. Or, should I switch to a different manufacturer? Then again, maybe I'd just keep my old phone.