10 system Implementation Risks for non-IT professionals

04/07/23

System Implementations: 10 Risks for non-IT

professionalsDr. Jim Bohn

PRO/Axios

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.

04/07/23Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation

Ten System Implementation Risks

1. ROI Blindness

2. Lack of Organizational Preparedness

3. Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do

4. Denying the 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



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



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



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



ROI Blindness Lack of Organizational Preparedness Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do Denying the 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



ROI Blindness 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 – 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



ROI Blindness 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 – 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



ROI Blindness 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 – 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



ROI Blindness 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 – “I can’t say ‘No’”. Without

discipline, projects grow into monstrosities, becoming impossible to implement. Scope happens.

Doing Technology before process Counting the cost



ROI Blindness 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 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 cost04/07/23

Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation


ROI Blindness 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 – 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?


11th Risk – 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.


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10 system Implementation Risks for non-IT professionals