You know you need a new system, but you don’t know where to start. As you research your options, you’re overwhelmed by what it takes to plan and execute a project of this size. Sound familiar? From our 40+ years of experience, the best place to start is making sure you have a good project management methodology in place.
At QuantumMark, we approach system implementations from a people, process, and technology mindset – which we refer to as holistic project management. To be successful, these three elements must work cohesively together, regardless of project scale. When they don’t, it could lead to repercussions like internal resistance from your staff and stakeholders, resentment around the time and money your department has wasted, or mistrust from your leadership
Read below to learn how to avoid it for your next software implementation:
Key Strategies for Holistic Project Management
When software implement projects are planned, managed, and executed well, they pose very little interruptions to your normal business operations. You can only achieve this when you have a holistic view of your business and how technology fits into your short- and long-term goals.
Based on the 20+ years of experience in managing software implementation projects, there are three key strategies that QuantumMark recommends. These strategies help us find creative solutions that fix the true root cause of the problems that you might be experiencing. First, you need to create a clear vision for the future state of your business and how a new software will support this vision. Second, you must involve your staff early on in the decision making process. Third, engage your stakeholders! The sooner you do this, the less resistance you will face along the way. We will dive deeper into these strategies in the rest of this series.
Where to Start
Implementing new software can be overwhelming, but it can become less daunting with the right project management approach. Developing a holistic project management plan can be time-consuming, but it will save your business a lot of money, resources, and frustration in the end. If you’re looking to start the process, the first thing you need to do is to identify all of the stakeholders that will be impacted. Then, you will need to analyze the successes or failures of other software implementation projects within your department. This will provide a baseline for measuring the cultural dynamics and how open or resistant your stakeholders might be toward your project. Finally, you will need to assess whether the new software you are proposing will truly improve your current business processes. These steps will help you begin building a foundation for a successful implementation.
Benefits of Hiring a Consultant
When you and your staff have other tasks and responsibilities, it can be difficult to find time to plan holistically for a large-scale project. Unless you have done this before, it’s impossible to know what common pitfalls to look for in a software implementation project. This is why it’s helpful to hire a consultant to help. Our team will advocate for your best interests and keep track of all the project details so that you can focus your time and effort on doing what you do best. From developing your future vision to engaging your stakeholders, QuantumMark can guide you every step of the way.
Keep an eye out for blog #2 in our series to learn more about how holistic project management can help you avoid key project risks.