Skip to content
Tech Vs Humans
  • Mission
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • The Music List
  • The Reading List
  • Search Icon

Tech Vs Humans

A Digital Transformation Playspace

The Unfortunate Non-Negotiables

The Unfortunate Non-Negotiables

January 31, 2023

Software Implementation and Digital Transformation should be as humane an experience as we can make it. The people receiving the change should understand why the change is happening, they need to understand what it means for them, and, whenever possible, they need to have a say in the Change and its timing.

But oftentimes, the Software Implementation or Digital Transformation effort’s foundation is built upon a very human flaw, like the Death Star. The plan and approach for which the Change effort is based is derived from humans and shaped (and negotiated) by humans.

What does Tech Vs. Humans have against Humans?

Nothing – we think.

However, we have repeatedly seen how implementations are often structured on Non-Negotiable items. The most common is the combination of cost – keeping the price down – that includes Salespeople who negotiate with themselves on a regular basis and preconceived understandings of how things SHOULD get done.

In a recent example, a customer (and our Sales Team) couldn’t get their heads wrapped around the need for Project Management – which is a little crazy to me. Because, well, the plan is owned and maintained by the Project Management team at the end of the day. However, the customer and the Sales Team kept increasing the scope but couldn’t understand that that shift should translate to additional Project Management. They added another team – more Consulting time, yes, that was understood. But kept the same amount of Project Management. They added Change Management – more Consulting time, yes, but the same amount of Project Management.

We’ve seen this behavior time and time again. And we understand this behavior.

The scope grows while the Management of the entire effort (intended to ensure success) remains the same. Why?

How do we reconcile this gap?

In general, we all have flaws – which include, sometimes, the structure of the contract and the definition of the resources resulting from what we believe to be true. And that’s OK, as our blindspots are constantly moving and shifting. In the above situation, Project Management was clearly positioned and seen as operational overhead – a limited value-add Service. It’s hard to sell overhead, and it’s hard to justify buying something when you don’t really see its value. Yet, Project Management can and should be more than just Overhead – it’s insurance for Successful Delivery.

Now, the delivery team must recognize this situation as early as possible, document it, and raise it as a delivery risk. It’s equally important for the Stakeholders and the Sales team to be open to listening to options once the project officially starts. That doesn’t necessarily mean additional dollars but a repositioning of roles and responsibilities. Everyone wants success, so flexibility, an inherently awesome human quality, is critical to ensure other less awesome human qualities, like arrogance and bravado, don’t win the day.

Supporting Music

Kissing the Lipless by The Shins

Banquet by Bloc Party

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related


Digital Transformation, Implementation Best Practices

Post navigation

PREVIOUS
The Move from Idea to Execution
NEXT
The Progress Stopper

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Categories

  • Book Reviews
  • Career Growth
  • Change Management
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Digital Transformation
  • Guiding Principles
  • Humor
  • Implementation Best Practices
  • Implementation Parables
  • Implementation Vocabulary
  • Leadership
  • Personal Growth
  • User Adoption
  • User Personas
  • Work Management
  • Work/Life Balance

Previous Posts

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • September 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
© 2023   All Rights Reserved.