Michael WoodProject Manager / Business Analyst / Business Process Improvement Guru| Independent ContractorGig Harbor, Wa, United States
Okay, we are all doing our best to achieve impressive results with our process improvement projects. So what are the most presseing challenges facing you? What have you done to be successful and what has got you stumped. Share the good and the not so good. We can all benefit from sharing our experiences. Saving Changes...
Michael WoodProject Manager / Business Analyst / Business Process Improvement Guru| Independent ContractorGig Harbor, Wa, United States
Sounds like you have discovered one of the keys to success - alignment of expectations among stakeholders. As true for organizations as it is for projects. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Getting TI buy-in is also my biggest issue. My PI project is to replace old technology,unfortuately implemented and modified to death over 15 years by the same nerds I am now trying to convince there is a smarter way to do things these days. I cannot get them to see reason, try new products (nothing can be better than their 200 million lines of code they wrote in 1985)or look at new ways of doing things without a huge fight and size 9 steel cap boots! What to you do with these dinosaurs who resist change to the point of jeopardising their jobs! Needless to say I am not the most popular peson around. Saving Changes...
Michael WoodProject Manager / Business Analyst / Business Process Improvement Guru| Independent ContractorGig Harbor, Wa, United States
Hitting the walls can hurt indeed. I have had similar experiences with those who sabbatage not only their projects but their futures with the organization. I have observed an interesting dynamic among techical IT folk. Many are married to the technology they are comfortable with and have not desire to change. Best thing you can do is give them the best opportunity to get on board before the train leaves the station. After that, find new blood to move forward and let them maintain the old systems until the migration is complete. Then let nature take its course. I know what it is like to be the least popular person in the room, believe me. Saving Changes...
I'm with Micheal on your issue Faye, give them ample opportunity to get on board. If you have upper management buy-in, point out that this is a Corporate business strategy. If they still refuse, then let the vine die out. We've been doing that with our mainframe resources for the past two years. The department refused to update or streamline its functions, now funding and jobs are being cut. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Thanx for the support guys. I guess there really is no alternative is there. Most of these guys have no intention of getting on the train and when the rollout has complete they are going to be faced with some unpleasant realities. I have spent countless days and dollars giving them training on the new products, not to mention all the usual pep talks, strategic direction, career opportunities etc.but they fail to see that the end is nigh. I'm glad we have consensus on the only way to move forward, I had thought I was being a bit too hard headed on this one. Saving Changes...
My problem is slightly different. We are in the deployment stage of a project that can change the business model. The problem is that no one at the senior level is driving the strategy necessary to gain the benefits the product has for the company and hence insure the project/product is successful. Do I work with the folks at my level to make this happen or do I continue to float my opinion and hope eventually there is buy-in? Saving Changes...
Michael WoodProject Manager / Business Analyst / Business Process Improvement Guru| Independent ContractorGig Harbor, Wa, United States
I guess my advice is YES and YES. The question in my mind is why the apathy at the top? Maybe there is more to be considered. I would definitely ask the question. Why pay for something so dramatic if it does not seem to have the attention and support of top management? Instead of floating your opinion, try asking more questions or present to management how the project benefits and supports increased stockholder and other stakeholder value. Just a thought. Happy Holidays. Saving Changes...
