Plan for success with your IT Transformation programs and projects
IT TRANSFORMATION
#ittransformation #successfactors #succeedingtogether #projectframeworks
Just read an article stating that “IT Transformations are doomed to fail unless you deliberately plan for success.”
Most IT projects fail because 90% of the delivery focus is on the technology implementation. The remaining 10% is used up in finger pointing as to whose fault it was that the project failed. We at Sentinel advise and work with our clients using the TOPICS approach in determining which areas will be impacted most and require the most focus. We ‘ve discovered that upfront impact analysis is worth its weight in bitcoins and that is now part of the DNA of our projects.
TOPICS is Sentinel Software System’s own framework which allows us to identify areas of high impact and to focus the correct effort and the right skills on those areas. In summary:
T – Technology – Will this be minor tweaks, major changes or complete swap-out? Will it be the “big bang” approach or phased introduction of capability?
O – Organisation – How will roles change and have you discussed this with your staff? What training and upskilling will be required? Do you have a training and enablement plan? How will you manage your stakeholders?
P – Processes – Are these remaining the same, or will these be remodelled, automated and re-deployed? How will these be embedded and their effectiveness measured?
I – Information – What data feeds do you need going in and coming out to satisfy the information needs at the operational, management and executive levels? Will the systems contain this information and will you BI tools be able to access and report on this? How and what will you communicate with your stakeholders?
C – Content – What data is needed by the new systems to function as they should do and as your processes and workflows demand? How do you maintain data quality?
S – Security – What mechanisms will be required to safeguard your systems, your data, your IP and your reputation?
The impact analysis will feed into and inform your approach and project plans, help to identify risks and issues and reduce your assumptions. The key takeaway from this: Don’t implement just another shiny new piece of technology; deploy a framework that supports success across each of these critical domains.
Contact Sentinel Software Systems if you want to find out more.