A Fool With A Tool

  Change Management   ProjectsAtWork  

Any software implementation should enable or enhance a business process. Unfortunately, many organizations mistakenly believe that the technology itself is the solution. In reality, it is at best 10 percent of the value equation — the other 90 percent is based on the human factor.

Seventy percent of technology implementations fail. In other words, seven out of ten applications that are installed aren’t being used one year later. Talk about wasted resources!

How does this happen? All too often, company or department leaders hear about new software and view it as the “next shiny thing.” They call the software provider and say, “We heard you have a great tool and we’d like a demonstration.” The software is certainly seductive with its bells and whistles, but its effectiveness and usefulness depend upon the validity of the information going in and how the people actually work with it. Having a tool is great, but remember that a fool with a tool is still a fool (and sometimes a dangerous fool).

So if technology is not the answer, what is? The answer that will really solve organizational challenges and enable business processes consists of three parts that, when done correctly in conjunction, will lead to long lasting results.

1. Get the business process design right before you implement any software.

The first step to a …

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