In the previous blog, we discussed the benefits of using holistic project management for software implementation and how it can help you plan, manage, and execute your project well. We also talked about the importance of starting with a clear vision for what you want the future state of your organization to look like. In this post, we will dive deeper into what this means.
What is included
Before you consider launching a new software or upgrading your existing software, it’s important to have a clear understanding of how technology fits into your short- and long-term organizational goals. This includes identifying your current pain points and how new technology will help you eliminate non-value-add activities. From there, you will need to consider how the new software will impact your internal workflows. Since employee roles can change, you might need to update your policies or procedures.
Next, you will need to consider the specific functionalities that your new software will need to provide. These should be documented as system requirements. These requirements help bring your system vendor on the same page.
Why does it matter
You might be thinking that it takes a lot of effort to develop a clear future vision. Or, why it’s so important to put in this much effort up front. There are several things that could go wrong if you don’t start out with a clear vision. First, you can end up with a software that doesn’t solve your pain points. Second, you could end up with a new system that doesn’t meet your business needs. Both of these scenarios will lead to fear and resistance from both internal and external stakeholders. When you have a software system that isn’t right for your organization, it could cause major disruptions in your customer service. In the worst cases, it could even pose risks to your organization’s privacy and security. At the end of the day, technology should make your life easier. But the wrong technology will actually make your life even harder.
When software implementation projects are planned, managed, and executed well, they pose very little interruptions to normal business operations. This is where holistic project management comes in. You can only achieve this type of implementation when you have a holistic view of your business and how technology fits into your short- and long-term goals.
Holistic project management, such as the type QuantumMark provides, is one of the best tools you have for creating a strong and measurable future vision. This is important to do before you begin the software implementation. In our next blog, we will explore how involving your staff early and in the right places is another key success metric for software implementations.