Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
promote individuals out of positions as a result of their excellent perfor-
mance, only to find that they are unsuited to their new roles. Individuals
may thus be promoted only until they reach one place beyond their peak
skill level, leading to dissatisfaction and reduced operational efficiency
enterprise-wide.
Plan Ahead and Stick to the Plan
A common maxim states that “Form follows function.” While this is cer-
tainly true for sharks and submarines, it is amazing how complicated
and internally inconsistent an IT enterprise can become over time. The
key to a successful initiative is to have a plan and to build toward the
goal, with regular checks to ensure that the goal remains valid and that
efforts are achieving desired movement toward the goal's end state. Start-
ing with modest testing will help to ensure that the new technology meets
an actual need before building unwarranted expectations or creating con-
cerns about change. With a clear plan and identified requirements, it is
far easier to reach the necessary solution than when the end goal is indis-
tinct or incompletely conveyed to the implementation staff. Above all,
start at the top and build interest and support downward, to ensure that
funding and reasonable expectations are in place before user requirements
and preferences turn “feature creep” into a nightmare of complexity and
unending revision.
Collaborative Technologies Are Vital
Collaborative technologies form the communications core, whether plan-
ning for a simple technology modernization project or a rip-and-replace
total enterprise overhaul. Such technologies include e-mail, task assign-
ment, ticket management, calendaring, virtual meeting spaces, threaded
discussion boards, wikis, shared document storage, voice and video
teleconferencing, voice mail, instant messaging, and a host of emerg-
ing methods for communicating and organizing groups of participants.
Before a project is undertaken, it is absolutely imperative to ensure that
all appropriate collaboration technologies and a formal communications
plan are in place to promote communication among users, implementers,
and governance roles.
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