To accomplish a successful business transformation project, experience drawn from numerous projects over the years has shown a pattern worth incorporating into every project. Successful projects establish a program framework and implementation approach that addresses the following critical success factors:

• Executive Sponsorship:  The project should strive to develop a productive relationship with the Executive Sponsors that encourages active participation in the project rather than a group that receives monthly status updates. The Executive Sponsors can be the greatest asset to a team and the most effective change agents if given the opportunity. Utilizing a practical decision-making framework that facilitates timely decisions is a key component to leveraging the Executive Sponsor’s participation.

• Project Team Structure: The project needs resources their organizations perceive as thought leaders. Often, staffing decisions are made based on availability and not necessarily on the candidates’ qualifications. However, because of the project’s importance to the business’s future, there needs to be a priority to staff the project with the right resources.

If this is done:

• The ability of the end solution to meet the business needs is enhanced
• The organization has ready acceptance and confidence in the solution
• The time to develop the solution will decrease, which reduces the risks and costs of the project
• Business process changes will be sustained after the implementation is completed

• Rollout Strategy – A rapid and aggressive rollout strategy allows the project to develop wins and demonstrate benefits early. In addition, this will help facilitate a smooth rollout and cultivate a group of supportive users early.

• Change Management Program – As program complexity and reach increase, so does the risk of not realizing the expected business benefits. Unfortunately, most organizations are resistant to change.

• Training Program – Firms often underestimate the training required for successful transformation. How your firm certifies core system competencies and readiness will help reassure the users and their management that they are ready to go live.

• Quality Solution – Clients have often hired us after a failed implementation. The major contributor is often preliminary design or severe technical issues overlooked during the testing process. The most successful approach to any business transformation project is to take a process focus on solving the business need and on viewing the technology as the enabler of the process. Focus on implementing complete end-to-end procedures that meet the stated business objectives. Employ a rigorous iterative testing process to ensure that the solution will work effectively in a production environment before the implementation. Leverages these testing events to accomplish several key objectives: process validation, project team education, quality assurance, and solution acceptance.

• Technical Support – Many projects with fewer complexities have failed or missed deadlines because of technical issues at the infrastructure or application layer. Use a methodology that is process oriented. Technical competency as part of the team is a core strength you must have. Partner with the different technology vendors to ensure that their solution works, and when it doesn’t, work closely with them to resolve the issue.