Systems Implementations affect the very DNA of your organization. Carefully consider these risks prior to starting a new system.

1. PRO/Axios
System
Implementations:
10 Risks for non-IT
professionals
Dr. Jim Bohn
11/18/2013

2. Why am I offering this caution?
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I gained these operational insights through
experience with several major IT implementations.
Many (not all) IT consultants avoid telling you
about these risks.
Most companies don‟t do enough IT
implementations to get „good‟ at it.
Few internal IT teams stay together long enough to
share learning from the last system
implementation.
System introductions touch the very DNA of your
organization. The risks are VERY HIGH.
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

3. Ten System Implementation Risks
ROI Blindness
2. Lack of Organizational Preparedness
3. Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
4. Denying the impact of the change
5. Wheels on the bus
6. The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
7. I get by with a little help from my friends
8. Ado Annie syndrome (“I can‟t say „No‟”)
9. Doing Technology before process
10. Counting the cost
1.
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

4. Ten System Implementation Risks
ROI Blindness – Perceived ROI sometimes makes rational
people irrational. Rare is the organization that goes back to
check the original ROI. Be brutally honest about the true
financial and human toll required.
 Lack of Organizational Preparedness
 Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
 Denying the impact of the change
 Wheels on the bus
 The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
 I get by with a little help from my friends
 Ado Annie syndrome
 Doing Technology before process
 Counting the cost
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational

Transformation
11/18/2013

5. Ten System Implementation Risks
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ROI Blindness
Lack of Organizational Preparedness – The old gospel song asks
“Are you ready?” Have you thought through how this
implementation will affect your organization? Do you have the
capacity for this change?
Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
Denying the impact of the change
Wheels on the bus
The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
I get by with a little help from my friends
Ado Annie syndrome
Doing Technology before process
Counting the cost
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

6. Ten System Implementation Risks
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ROI Blindness
Lack of Organizational Preparedness
Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do - Are you
fooling yourself into thinking that those with spare time on their
hands are the right people for the job, simply because they are
available? Think again.
Denying the impact of the change
Wheels on the bus
The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
I get by with a little help from my friends
Ado Annie syndrome
Doing Technology before process
Counting the cost
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

7. Ten System Implementation Risks
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ROI Blindness
Lack of Organizational Preparedness
Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
Denying the impact of the change - Research shows your
organization will not perform at the same level during the
introduction of a new system. There are revenue and profit
implications. What is your plan?
Wheels on the bus
The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
I get by with a little help from my friends
Ado Annie syndrome
Doing Technology before process
Counting the cost
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

8. Ten System Implementation Risks
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ROI Blindness
Lack of Organizational Preparedness
Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
Denying the impact of the change
Wheels on the bus – Your organization needs to continue to
serve customers and care for employees during the change.
You are changing a tire on a moving vehicle – what are your
contingency plans?
The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
I get by with a little help from my friends
Ado Annie syndrome
Doing Technology before process
Counting the cost
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

9. Ten System Implementation Risks
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ROI Blindness
Lack of Organizational Preparedness
Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
Denying the impact of the change
Wheels on the bus
The Jimmy Hoffa Syndrome – Your system will discover
unexpected software patches that must be integrated with the
new system, some built in COBOL = $$$$. Uncover those pitfalls
early in your due diligence!
I get by with a little help from my friends
Ado Annie syndrome
Doing Technology before process
Counting the cost
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

10. Ten System Implementation Risks
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





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ROI Blindness
Lack of Organizational Preparedness
Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
Denying the impact of the change
Wheels on the bus
The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
I get by with a little help from my friends – Your implementation
is going to impact a LOT of unforeseen individuals and teams.
Discover who will be impacted. I can assure you: The impact
matters to them!
Ado Annie syndrome
Doing Technology before process
Counting the cost
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

11. Ten System Implementation Risks
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ROI Blindness
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Lack of Organizational Preparedness
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Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
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Denying the impact of the change
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Wheels on the bus
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The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
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I get by with a little help from my friends
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Ado Annie Syndrome – “I can‟t say „No‟”. Without discipline,
projects grow into monstrosities, becoming impossible to
implement. Scope happens.
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Doing Technology before process
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Counting the cost
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

12. Ten System Implementation Risks
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







ROI Blindness
Lack of Organizational Preparedness
Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
Denying the impact of the change
Wheels on the bus
The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
I get by with a little help from my friends
Ado Annie syndrome
Rushing to Implement Technology before Analyzing Process –
Do not write Technical Design Documents without first having
gone through Process Design. Resist this impulse or you‟ll
automate a bad process.
Counting the cost
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

13. Ten System Implementation Risks
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







ROI Blindness
Lack of Organizational Preparedness
Using the “B” Team when only the “A” team will do
Denying the impact of the change
Wheels on the bus
The Jimmy Hoffa syndrome
I get by with a little help from my friends
Ado Annie syndrome
Doing Technology before process
Counting the cost – The Biblical adage about ensuring you can
finish what you start is wonderful ancient wisdom. Considering
the whole cost – people, process, finances, are you determined
to complete the project?
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

14. 11th Risk – Ignoring the details
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Agree on the meaning of terms – make sure there is
no ambiguity on what something means. This is
crucial on global projects.
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Develop standard definitions of terms.
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Design consistent revision controls and stick to them.
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Ensure consistent issue management.
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Construct common databases for efficiency.
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This is painstaking work, but worth the investment of
your time.
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

15. Pro/Axios
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We offer plainspoken guidance for those who do the
work.
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Check out the Rapid Diagnostic @
www.ProAxios.com
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info@proaxios.com
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651-302-1574
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Minneapolis, MN, USA
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational
Transformation
11/18/2013

16. Thank
All management is change management
you for your time!