Incomplete Projects are Monuments, not Trophies
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Dr. Jim Bohn provides a list of 10 things to consider when starting a new IT implementation project to avoid common pitfalls. The risks include: 1) being blinded by an unrealistic return on investment; 2) lack of organizational preparedness for the changes; 3) using less experienced "B team" members; 4) denying the business impacts; 5) not having contingency plans; 6) undiscovered issues from legacy systems; 7) underestimating indirect impacts; 8) allowing scope creep; 9) rushing technology before analyzing processes; and 10) not fully counting the total costs. Thorough planning and preparation are needed to address these risks and ensure a successful project outcome.
Incomplete Projects are Monuments, not Trophies
- 1. 4/18/2014 PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight INCOMPLETE PROJECTS ARE MONUMENTS BUT NOT TROPHIES.
- 2. 4/18/2014 THINGS YOU OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU START A NEW IT IMPLEMENTATION Dr. Jim Bohn PRO/Axios
- 3. Ten Things you ought to think about … 1. ROI Blindness 2. Lack of Organizational Preparedness 3. Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do 4. Denying the business impact of the change 5. Wheels on the bus 6. The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome 7. I get by with a little help from my friends 8. Ado Annie syndrome (“I can‟t say „No‟”) 9. Doing Technology before process 10. Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation
- 4. Why am I offering this caution? I gained these operational insights through experience with several major IT implementations. Many (not all) IT consultants avoid telling you about these risks. Most companies don‟t do enough IT implementations to get „good‟ at IT. Few internal IT teams stay together long enough to share learning from the last system implementation. System introductions touch the very DNA of your organization. The risks are VERY HIGH. 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation
- 5. 1. ROI Blindness 2. Lack of Organizational Preparedness 3. Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do 4. Denying the business impact of the change 5. Wheels on the bus 6. The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome 7. I get by with a little help from my friends 8. Ado Annie syndrome (“I can‟t say „No‟”) 9. Doing Technology before process 10. Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation Ten Things you ought to think about …
- 6. ROI BLINDNESS ROI Blindness – Perceived ROI sometimes makes rational people irrational. Rare is the organization that goes back to check the original ROI. Be brutally honest about the true financial and human toll required. Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the impact of the change Wheels on the bus The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome I get by with a little help from my friends Ado Annie syndrome Doing Technology before process Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 1
- 7. ROI Blindness Bring DATA! Not anecdotes … 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight ALERT: Executives do not respond well to complaining 1
- 8. LACK OF ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness – The old gospel song asks “Are you ready?” Have you thought through how this implementation will affect your organization? Do you have the capacity for this change? Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the impact of the change Wheels on the bus The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome I get by with a little help from my friends Ado Annie syndrome Doing Technology before process Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 2
- 9. Lack of Organizational Preparedness • Bring experience! • Raise questions! • Have you considered? • Get the risks into a project plan. 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight 2
- 10. USING THE “B” TEAM ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do - Are you fooling yourself into thinking that those with spare time on their hands are the right people for the job, simply because they are available? Think again. Denying the impact of the change Wheels on the bus The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome I get by with a little help from my friends Ado Annie syndrome Doing Technology before process Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 3
- 11. Using the “B” Team when only the “A” Team will do. • Bring experience. • Recommend. • Have alternatives. 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight 3
- 12. DENYING THE BUSINESS IMPACT ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the business impact of the change - Research shows your organization will not perform at the same level during the introduction of a new system. There are revenue and profit implications. What is your plan? Wheels on the bus The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome I get by with a little help from my friends Ado Annie syndrome Doing Technology before process Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 4
- 13. Denying the business impact of the change Bring research. From experts. 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight 4
- 14. WHEELS ON THE BUS ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the business impact of the change Wheels on the bus – Your organization needs to continue to serve customers and care for employees during the change. You are changing a tire on a moving vehicle – what are your contingency plans? The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome I get by with a little help from my friends Ado Annie syndrome Doing Technology before process Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 5
- 15. Wheels on the bus • What‟s our backup plan? • Build it! 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight 5
- 16. JIMMY HOFFA SYNDROME ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the business impact of the change Wheels on the bus The Jimmy Hoffa Syndrome – Your system will discover unexpected software patches that must be integrated with the new system, some built in COBOL = $$$$. Uncover those pitfalls early in your due diligence! I get by with a little help from my friends Ado Annie syndrome Doing Technology before process Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 6
- 17. Jimmy Hoffa Syndrome • Be diligent about due diligence! • Boring, painful but necessary work. 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight 6
- 18. A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the business impact of the change Wheels on the bus The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome I get by with a little help from my friends – Your implementation is going to impact a LOT of unforeseen individuals and teams. Discover who will be impacted. I can assure you: The impact matters to them! Ado Annie syndrome Doing Technology before process Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 7
- 19. I get by with a little help from my friends • Study direct and indirect impact for all teams affected by the change. 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight 7
- 20. ADO ANNIE SYNDROME ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the business impact of the change Wheels on the bus The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome I get by with a little help from my friends Ado Annie Syndrome – “I can‟t say „No‟”. Without discipline, projects grow into monstrosities, becoming impossible to implement. Scope happens. Doing Technology before process Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 8
- 21. Ado Annie Syndrome is best met with “Maximus” • HOLD THE LINE! • Remind team members of the goal. • Show the $$$ impact of scope creep. 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight 8
- 22. RUSHING TO IMPLEMENT TECHNOLOGY ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the business impact of the change Wheels on the bus The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome I get by with a little help from my friends Ado Annie syndrome Rushing to Implement Technology before Analyzing Process – Do not write Technical Design Documents without first having gone through Process Design. Resist this impulse or you‟ll automate a bad process. Counting the cost 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 8
- 23. Rushing to Implement Technology before Analyzing Process • Boring but essential. • Don‟t automate junk! • People will push you to cut this corner: budget, timing, pr essure. 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight 9
- 24. NOT COUNTING THE COST ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the business impact of the change Wheels on the bus The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome I get by with a little help from my friends Ado Annie syndrome Doing Technology before process Counting the cost – The Biblical adage about ensuring you can finish what you start is wonderful ancient wisdom. Considering the whole cost – people, process, finances, are you determined to complete the project? 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 10
- 25. Counting the cost • Do you really have the resources to finish this thing? • Unfinished projects are monuments but not trophies. • Are your leaders committed to the project for the long-haul? 4/18/2014PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight 10
- 26. Ignoring the details … Agree on the meaning of terms – make sure there is no ambiguity on what something means. This is crucial on global projects. Develop standard definitions of terms. Design consistent revision controls and stick to them. Ensure consistent issue management. Construct common databases for efficiency. This is painstaking work, but worth the investment of your time. 4/18/2014 Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation 11
- 27. 4/18/2014 PRO/Axios: Organizational Insight INCOMPLETE PROJECTS ARE MONUMENTS BUT NOT TROPHIES.
- 28. Pro/Axios We offer plainspoken guidance for those who do the work. Check out the Rapid Diagnostic @ www.ProAxios.com info@proaxios.com 651-302-1574 Minneapolis, MN, USA @DrJimBohn 4/18/2014Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation