A New adVenture

If you follow me on Facebook, you are well aware that Julie and I have been renovating our new house. That makes three for three. We have done a major addition or renovation on each of the three houses we have owned. That, on top of several lesser projects. In all of that, we have learned: A) we enjoy the process, and B) we are pretty good at it.  So, of course, we are wondering if helping others through their home renovation journey, could become a side business for us.IMG_3052.jpg

We need your help, and we hope we can help you in the process. We need to figure out what a business model would look like for Home Renovation Consulting. We are not, nor are we trying to be, general contractors or interior designers. We want to fill that gap between “I think we want to do something with our house”, and committing to the project. We feel there are many ways we could support the would-be renovator, and we need your help trying to figure which of those activities would be of the most value, and what would you be willing to pay for the service. Since we do not have those things defined, our starting rate will be “$0 + your feedback”.

To give you an idea of our experience here are some before and after shots from our most recent project.

Before:

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After:

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Before:

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After:IMG_3057.jpg

If you are thinking about changing the look and feel of your home, but don’t know where or how to start, let us know. If you know someone in that situation, send them the link to this page.

Our one disclaimer is that, since we are just starting out, we are limiting our boundary to the Durham / Chapel Hill / Raleigh (NC) area.

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Software Adoption: Stakeholder Inclusion

This is a cross-post with the Software Adoption Project. My take on why stakeholders need to be included early in any enterprise software deployment project.

Here is the link.

Software Adoption: Improving Software Deployment Through User Engagement

 

Preface

As a young man I remember talking to my Dad and telling him that Microsoft was the most important and powerful company in the world. He kind of laughed and gave me that knowing Dad look. He “knew” that the real powerful and important companies were the likes of GE and GM. I tried to argue my point, but to no avail. He always countered with, “What am I going to do with a computer?”

 

Clearly the world has shifted. Today, software is a fundamental element of every organization’s infrastructure, and if that software is not operating as intended, the organization will suffer. Every effort is made to ensure that the software works well, and most companies do a great job of making sure the technical side of that need is addressed. What frequently gets missed is the people side of the equation. What if users are unwilling to use the software? One of my favorite sayings is,

If the user resists, the project fails, no matter how good the technology is.

 

I am writing this whitepaper to look at software adoption and user engagement as critical components of any software deployment.

About

Introduction

Software adoption refers to the level of use a software system achieves as compared to the intended level of use. The successful deployment of a software system is typically predicated on user adoption reaching intended levels. When user adoption does not reach intended levels, the anticipated benefits of the system will not be realized.

There is no single, clear-cut way to ensure or measure software adoption, as every instance has unique circumstances that must be considered. Though, there are practices that can increase the probability of a successful software deployment by taking a planful approach to software adoption factors. This paper outlines that set of practices.

Value Proposition

Many studies over that past several years (e.g. 1, 2, 3) point to a disturbingly high incidence of software deployment failures that are products of low levels of adoption. When users choose not to use a new system the consequences can include:

  • loss of data not properly captured or processed
  • reduction in productivity as users spend time creating work-arounds to avoid the system
  • redundant effort resulting from excessively running old and new processes simultaneously
  • employee dissatisfaction

Software adoption improvement practices can address these types of problems at a fraction of the cost of the losses otherwise incurred. A strong software adoption improvement program can also generate discrete benefits, beyond loss avoidance, in the areas of  innovation and increased user engagement.

Elements

There are three fundamental elements to be considered when addressing user adoption of a new software system. They are:

  • Organizational change
  • User experience
  • Measurement

Each of these disparate disciplines must be integrated to create an effective software adoption improvement program.

Organizational Change

For the purposes of this discussion, I define organizational change as the behavioral and procedural changes that are necessary within the organization to achieve the desired outcomes of the software deployment initiative. To effectively deal with these changes it is necessary to:

  • Identify the changes
  • Socialize the changes
  • Effect the changes
  • Validate the changes

All of this must be done within the context of the business objectives behind the software implementation initiative.

 

As stated previously, users must actually use software in order for it to have impact. To get users to adopt new software, they need to be prepared for the changes involved. If we look at the Prosci ADKAR framework of change, we see that the first two elements of change are “awareness” and “desire”. For software users to be aware of the change and for them to have a desire to use the software, the project owners need to do three things.

  • Create clarity
  • Provide transparency
  • Have empathy

These activities are crucial to creating user engagement.

Clarity

In any endeavor that promises to deliver a solution, there must first be clarity around the question, “What is the problem we are trying to solve?” More often than not, projects lead with technology, features, and solutions without explicitly stating the problem. Without clarity, different stakeholder groups may well be trying to solve different problems. This one factor leads to more problems in communication than any other. Ultimately this miscommunication yields frustration and resistance by the users.

Before any active work on technology or features begins, there should be clarity and alignment around a common understanding of the problem statement.

Transparency

Project transparency is about letting stakeholders see the process from start to finish. When users can see the process, and the decisions that are made during a project implementation, they will have a better awareness of why the project is needed. It will also give them the opportunity to raise red flags before problems have gone too far downstream. The visibility into the process and the ability to interact, gives users a sense of ownership and will increase the odds of engagement and adoption once the software is delivered.

The mechanics of transparency will differ based on the organization and type of project. The key thing for the project team to remember is to proactively consider what transparency will look like for their particular situation. The one action that will always be necessary is to generate a comprehensive stakeholder map, making sure that every group that will be impacted by the change is accounted for.

Empathy

For any software implementation project to succeed, more than lip-service needs to be paid to listening to the users. It is possible to do more damage than good with surveys and focus groups if the users do not believe the efforts are genuine. Empathy is important. The project team must truly understand the situation from the point of view of the user, and not assume they know what the user is thinking.

User Experience

The manner in which a user experiences new software plays a huge role in their willingness to use that software. When a project team is tasked with deploying software, user experience design should play a major role in the project. The user experience should be considered ahead of software features. If a user has difficulty accessing even the most basic functionality then they will form a long-lasting negative impression of the system. New features can always be added over time, but that initial experience can never be revisited.

Designing an excellent user experience leans heavily on one of the concepts introduced earlier, empathy. The designer must see with the user’s eyes to design an experience that will not be a barrier to adoption.

Measurement

To understand if your software deployment has achieved the desired level of adoption, appropriate measurements must be defined in advance. These measurements must cover more than just usage levels, they must also address business value received. Usage metrics and business metrics must be combined to identify how adoption levels and user engagement have contributed to the overall outcomes.

The business metrics need to be related the identified problem statement. If that problem is not solved, the desired business value has not been obtained.

The most important usage metrics should relate to the change in usage. There is typically no specific number that defines good usage, but an increasing rate of usage is usually a positive indicator.

Methodology

A software adoption improvement program (SAIP) is stakeholder driven. An SAIP can be broken down into four primary stages:

  • Initial Stakeholder Map Creation
  • Stakeholder Map Confirmation
  • Stakeholder Communications
  • Self-Sustaining Stakeholder Network

These stages are not necessarily linear steps, but rather an indication of the maturity of the stakeholder relationship to the project. For this discussion we will look at the evolution of the maturation process as linear for easier understanding.

Throughout each stage of an SAIP each of the elements are considered: organizational change, user experience, and measurement.

Initial Stakeholder Model Creation

“We need to do something.” And so it begins, a new project is started. The catalyst may be a top-down edict, a grassroots movement, or anything in between, but in any instance, it will be a small group that will take the first few steps. The first question that should be addressed is “what is the problem we are trying to solve?” This initial group should have a pretty good idea of the answer. More importantly they should understand that various stakeholders of the project may have different answers to this question, and it is the job of the project team to fully understand those viewpoints. Therefore the first task of the core project team should be to draft an initial stakeholder map, a best guess of impacted stakeholders and what that impact might look like.

Stakeholder Map Confirmation

With the initial stakeholder map in hand, the next step is to confirm the map’s veracity. This is an outreach process, but not with the intent of delivering information. Stakeholder map confirmation is about listening. Approach representatives of each stakeholder cohort with a general concept of the project and its objectives, then listen to their reactions. Do not attempt to convince or coerce at this point. The purpose is to learn as much as possible in an effort to design the software for success.

Along with gauging reactions, you should also mine deeper and find out if there are other stakeholder groups that have been overlooked.

This stage should be seen as the opening of a dialogue with the stakeholders, and an invitation to them to be active participants and partners in the project. This establishes the clarity, transparency and empathy that should endure through the course of the project.

Stakeholder Communication

Stakeholder communication escalates the dialogue beyond stakeholder representatives to the entire stakeholder populations. The conversation will begin with a more filled out description of the project, its objectives, and deliverables. The intent of this stage is to ensure broad awareness of the initiative, and to open a channel for feedback from stakeholders. For best results, this stage should occur at a time when modifications and improvements to the software and supporting processes can still be accomodated.

This stage should evolve over time from a place where information flows primarily from the project team to the stakeholders, to a state where the stakeholders are directly engaging the project team and are comfortable providing feedback.

Several tactics can be used at this stage including the use of champions, gamification, and recognition.

Self-Sustaining Stakeholder Network

If the stakeholder relationship has moved successfully through each of the previous stages, and a positive and trusting relationship has been established, the interaction between the team and the stakeholders should become natural and self-sustaining. If this stage is reached, the project team and the stakeholders will evolve to a partnership, where the roles between those delivering the software and those using the software become blurred, leading to an active and ongoing conversation.

This stage can only be reached when clarity, transparency, and empathy are core tenets of the project team’s operating model.

In Practice

If we consider a standard software deployment initiative, the project phases will look something like this:

  • Charter/Objective
  • Plan
  • Development
  • Test
  • Deployment
  • Support

Setting aside distinctions between project methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, etc.), this model is consistent with my experience. I use this model here to highlight the differences between the stakeholder driven SAIP methodology described above, how software adoption issues are typically handled, and when stakeholders are an afterthought to technical considerations.

 

Project Phase Stakeholder Driven SAIP Typical Deployment Technical Deployment
Charter Stakeholder Map Creation
Plan Stakeholder Map Confirmation Identify Stakeholders
Development Stakeholder Communication Limited focus groups and surveys
Test Self-Sustaining Stakeholder Network Hand-picked users asked to help with testing Hand-picked users asked to help with testing
Deployment Self-Sustaining Stakeholder Network Mass communication about the initiative; Training opportunities listed Mass communication about the initiative; Training opportunities listed
Support Self-Sustaining Stakeholder Network Ad Hoc training and problem resolution as needed Ad Hoc training and problem resolution as needed

 

The stakeholder driven SAIP approach does require more effort up front, but that effort will be significantly less that the effort required by the support function in the other scenarios. When users are not aware of the pending changes until the last minute, have no desire to make the change, and have no knowledge of how to change, support costs will increase dramatically. On top of that, delays are common as unplanned efforts to convince users of the value of the project are required.

Engaging stakeholders early and often provides multiple benefits, including:

  • Better software
  • Higher levels of productivity
  • Higher levels of user engagement
  • Lower deployment costs
  • Shorter “time to value”
  • Increased probability of meeting ROI predictions

Conclusion

I have tried to make a case here for including stakeholders early in the software development and deployment process. My experience is that this involvement in most instances does not happen early enough. My recommendation is that any software initiative should include a stakeholder advocate as part of the core team from day one.
Creative Commons License
Software Adoption: Improving Software Deployment Through User Engagement by Lee White is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://insideconversation.wordpress.com/2015/12/21/software-adoption-improving-software-deployment-through-user-engagement/.

The New Cluetrain

Hear, O Internet.

It has been sixteen years since our previous communication.

…and thus begins the 121 new clues, from two of the original authors of The Cluetrain Manifesto. The original manifesto, first published in 1999, had a great influence on me, and helped set the direction of much of my career since. The new clues, published this week by Doc Searls and David Weinberger, jumps us forward by 16 years to the internet that we have today. I hope you chose to read it for yourself.

Screenshot 2015-01-09 15.20.03

Pro Bono Change Management Consulting

I have an offer. If you are about to, or are in the process of deploying new technology within your organization, I will help you with the people and process aspects of that change at no cost. In return, I need to become fully conversant in the project specifics prior to January 31, 2015. My intent is to use the project as the basis for becoming certified in Prosci‘s ADKAR change management methodology. Upon completing the certification in mid-February, I will provide you with the change management strategy I develop during the course.Screenshot 2014-12-15 09.58.43

The Specifics

The project should be related to the deployment of a new or upgraded information system, across a significant part of your organization. This could be almost anything including an operating system upgrade, a new CRM, an ERP upgrade, new email, or (my favorite) a new collaboration system. It is typical for any of these types of changes to face resistance with respect to user adoption and stakeholder engagement. I have spent the majority of my career in this area and should be able to provide significant value to your project.

iStock_000000528370SmallThe cost on your end will be allowing me to have dedicated time with the project champion and/or project manager, prior to January 31. Probably two or three meetings or phone conversations to gather information about the project and to do a simple change readiness assessment. Total time commitment should be no more than 2-3 hours.

The deliverable for your organization will be a recommended strategy and plan of action for effective stakeholder engagement and user adoption of the new technology.

If you are interested and would like to reach me, here is my resume and contact information.

Organizational Change Management Models

How people deal with change has been an interest of mine for most of my professional career. It is now becoming the focus of my future career track. I am in the midst of doing research to be sure I am up to date on the latest research and thinking in the area. I just found this presentation that shows strengths and weaknesses of five different organizational change models. Interesting reading (if you happen to be an OD geek). 🙂

I am particularly interested in the PROSCI:ADKAR model. I find it closely aligned to my own philosophy of addressing organizational change, particularly with respect to technology adoption.

Open Letter From A Technology Adoption Practitioner

You know the saying about the cure being worse than the disease? Probably the best example of that adage these days are new IT systems that are deployed across an organization with great fanfare … and no forewarning. The common results include:

  • Resistance to change
  • Low levels of user adoption
  • Not meeting predicted ROI
  • Over budget
  • Missing deployment milestones

I would be surprised if these outcomes were not familiar to you. Many IT projects are plagued with these results. One key to getting better results is to include people, culture, and process considerations along with technical specifications from the beginning of the project. Wouldn’t it be nice if the people that will be using a new system were an integral part of the design and deployment of that system? With this thought in mind, I would like to ask for your help.

I have been out of work now for more months than I care to count. Recently, I reached the point where I needed to re-evaluate what I was looking for and how I was going about it. The bottom line is that I have been shooting too broadly, hoping to connect with any position that was generally connected with my experience.

I have spent the last few weeks trying to re-focus on what I really want to do and what I do well. I want to articulate that vision in a way that an organization can see the value I bring to the table. So here it is: I am looking for situations where organizations are deploying new technology, and need help with the people and process aspects of the deployment. Studies have shown that many IT deployments fail, not for any technical reason, but because little planning or thought was put into how to engage end-users and other stakeholders in the system design and deployment. I have 20+ years experience doing just this, deploying technology so that users “get it” and willingly make the necessary changes in process and behavior to achieve desired results.iStock_000007969190Small

If you know of any organization or situation where a technology adoption specialist would be of value, please pass my resume along as appropriate. I am interested in either full-time positions or any sort of part-time/temporary/freelance situations. I am focused primarily on working in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina, but I am willing to work remotely from my home, and/or travel as necessary.

Thanks.

Lee White | Phone: (919) 280-5925 | Email: leewhite.nc@gmail.com

 

Users and New Technology

There is no secret that the success of information technology projects ultimately depends on whether or not the technology gets used. If you deploy it and no one comes to play, what good has it done. Getting users engaged is a critical element of project success. Gartner pointed this out almost 10 years age in their report, “The users view of why IT projects fail”. The key to success is to have a plan for user engagement and adoption as an integral part of the overall project plan. This is not something that can be tacked on at the end “if we have some money left”.iStock_000006700207XSmall

Didier Bonnnet of Capgemini recently published and article in Harvard Business Review that is on point here. He says:

When these platforms are introduced, organizations too often focus only on deployment, not adoption. It’s remarkable how commonplace it is for leaders to lose sight of the true ROI of their digital investments.

As organizations turn more and more to technology solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness, there needs to be increased effort put into the people and process aspects of these deployments.

Articulating the Value Proposition

Finding a new job this time has been more difficult than ever before. I am quite certain that my problem has been that I have not been focused enough on what it is that I do and defining the value I can provide to an organization. With this understanding I have taken a break from the daily scan of job listings, and worked on tryiiStock_000002883983Small_Be the first_gearsng to understand and articulate the real value I can bring to the table. I think I have finally identified my focus, technology deployment and user adoption. Pretty much every job I have had for the past 20+ years has been a variation of helping people learn new skills and change behaviors related to using new technology. There it is, that is what I do.

User Adoption Problems

Ultimately the success of any IT system boils down to, “Is it being used?”. No matter how good the ROI projections are, or how advanced the technology is, or how little it costs, if users are resistant to making necessary behavioral changes, the final result will be seen as a failure.iStock_000003953906Small

I found this post by Nuvem Consulting that details the potential issues with implementing Salesforce. For the most part these issues have nothing to do with the technology per se, but instead with human nature. Their key points for failure are:

  1. Poor communication
  2. Lack of support from executive stakeholders
  3. Resistance to change
  4. Failure to recognize that Salesforce is constantly evolving
  5. No champion
  6. Inadequate or no training
  7. Processes not clearly defined or that no longer work
  8. Poor data quality

Success of most IT projects will hinge, in part, on the people and process aspects of the deployment. Dealing with these issues requires a very different set of competencies than traditional IT project management. Including resources within any deployment initiative that are specifically focused on user adoption should be standard practice for any project.