Ripping out a software or technology stack is not going to fix the issues of bad project management, lack of collaboration and user engagement.
The technology is not the problem – in a workshop run by world renown Collaboration expert Michael Sampson he explained to the audience that the technology – regardless of the vendor – is only 10% of any kind of user adoption hurdle.
10 % Tech Vs 90% People
Strangely enough 90% of the audience got it – the normal users, the power users the knowledge workers – the real people, the people who count.
The remaining 10% who made all the right noises and then promptly went back to “it’s my way or the highway” approach were what can be best described as “the management”. These are the same people who write articles and tweet about collaborating and being a “social business”.
Sorry Mr 10% but if you don’t listen to your 90% it doesn’t matter if you have a Lotus/IBM solution, Microsoft, Oracle, Jive, Social Text – the list goes on – put in whatever technology you like – if you do not communicate what your goals, strategy and success targets you will go round and around in a vicious circle of vendor bashing.
In turn this will alienate the 90%
Your users don’t resist change – they resist being told they HAVE to change. If the 90% aren’t involved or consulted they will resist. Engage your users, empower them to input ideas and suggestions.
Sell your solution – the magic 90% need to know how their working lives will be improved, how they can collaborate and work more efficiently – keep them in the loop.
Offer Help – training, workshops and sessions where the magic 90% can feedback – have a dynamic plan – things will change when you engage your users.
Discuss and Communicate – two way discussions, frequent (but relevant) communication, ensure you are receiving feedback and process it accordingly (do not ignore the negative feedback), collaborating is the key.
This is not rocket science it is common sense!
So why do so many organisations still blame the technology?
You missed the other part….bad IT staff will still be bad IT staff.
Users complain because of poor performance of the system. Something I try very hard to resolve for my clients using what they have available.
But also remember it is not always so simple to drop the old for the new, many times the old is with you for years.
Can you get the 90% to agree on anything? Not likely, too many opinions and priorities which is why these decisions are usually placed, possibly incorrectly, in executives hands.
Goals are important but are rarely the reason for the change in the first place.