When your organization is set to begin a new project, there are a number of crucial elements that require attention and consideration before the first step is taken. Even knowing this, often project managers plan implementations without adequately anticipating possible problems despite the risks associated with any project. So how can you ensure a successful project implementation from the start?

Why do technology projects fail? With so many moving parts with such implementations, failure rates remain high. This is often a result of a few items:

a)    No plan or methodology. As with any project implementation, those involving technology require a well-developed plan/strategy, one that is communicated to all participants involved in the process. The individual in charge of the project needs to be able to clearly explain the reasons for the implementation, along with designated roles and scheduled timelines. Without a plan, there is little to stop a project from going awry.

b)     No monitoring. Even when a plan has been established, there is no guarantee of success if there is no monitoring of progress. If things are not going according to schedule, but there is no one keeping track of the tasks, there is no way to identify what is or is not being done. Careful monitoring of a project’s progress helps to keep everything on track.

c)     Not enough time or resources. Often project implementations are planned according to a calendar that makes no allowances for hiccups. If everything goes according to plan, great. What if it doesn’t? If not enough time or resources are allocated to a given project or element of that project, one minor bump in the road can throw an entire implementation off course. In particular, accommodations need to be made for users’ ‘real’ jobs in addition to their assigned project tasks and appropriate priorities communicated.

d)     No user acceptance testing (UAT). Any technological project needs to factor in ‘a day in the life’ user acceptance testing. This is the best way to test scenarios within which the software will be utilized and identify issues. The problem isn’t so much that UAT isn’t done, but rather that it isn’t monitored or made a priority, and thus participants are not as diligent in covering it.

So how can you ensure a successful project implementation right from the get-go? Teamwork, effective communication, and strong leadership are crucial. Having experienced consultants as part of the team is also important. Having a strategy for regular monitoring and maintenance is essential, as is managed UAT. All of these elements will help ensure that your project proceeds to a successful go live, guaranteed!

At True Sky, we recognize how intimidating the thought of a budgeting solution implementation can be. With the right team behind you, you can be sure your new budgeting and forecasting software implementation is executed effectively. Call us today at 1-905-752-3355.