IT projects usually follow a predictable trajectory. The management sets out the strategy, the IT department implements it and then the rest can use it in practice (adoption). But precisely because this involves three different parties, communication is sometimes hampered. The last thing you want after doing a major upgrade is learning that the employees do not see any added value in working with new software and hardware and the entire investment does not yield anything. How do you avoid such an outcome? Here are 3 useful tips for a successful adoption.
1. A good start…
It’s important to understand that adoption is not the end of the road, it is also the starting point in a new way of working. A good start means implementing changes in your IT landscape based on the immediate needs of your employees. These can be things that could, for instance, save them from mundane, repetitive tasks. Do they have to enter a number on four different screens because the systems do not communicate with each other? It then stands to reason that a bit of automation is guaranteed to be a big step forward. That way, you have a much greater chance that your employees will embrace the changes. And that in turn leads to higher efficiency and more job satisfaction.
2. Is everyone on board?
Even if you set the goals very clearly, it can still happen that the importance of adoption is overlooked in the implementation phase. To ensure that the functionality always remains number one, it is important to appoint key users to try out the upgrades.
These end-users should be involved as an of ambassadors during the implementation phase. Because IT projects are increasingly carried out in an Agile way, in sprints, it is possible to adapt new insights easily and quickly in the project. Plans sometimes have to be adjusted, for example, because of the budget, or because they are difficult to implement in practice. By involving key users to represent the end-users in such decisions, you can be sure that the intended improvement of the functionality will be in alignment with the needs of the users.
3. Communicate clearly
With so many different parties and interests, good communication is the cement that keeps the entire adoption solid and structured. As mentioned earlier, it is both the management, the IT staff (internal and external) and the end-users who have to make the project a success together.
When it comes to adoption, it is a good idea to have at least the following clearly on paper before you get started:
- Who is responsible for testing?
- When will the adoption start?
- How will the new systems be introduced? (training, one-on-one coaching, or just a phone number?)
- Who will teach the new systems to the ambassadors?
- How long is the adoption phase?
- Should documentation be provided? (in case of adoption by an external party)
These are all relatively simple questions with simple answers, yet they are crucial for the success of your IT project. Each might not be very important on their own, but when added together they make a big difference!
Would you like to know more about setting up and implementing an integrated adoption process? Then contact one of our experts for more information.
