Embarking on a system implementation can be a daunting task for any organization. To mitigate your project risk and prepare your team for the journey ahead, here are 3 tips when selecting your new System Implementer:
1. ALWAYS CHECK REFERENCES!!
- This can serve a dual purpose in confirming that the SI is going to be the appropriate partner to deliver success AND providing you with potential pitfalls you should plan for in the project implementation.
- Talk to both business and IT/technical resources within various referenced organizations.
- In addition to obtaining references from the SI, reach out to others in your geographical area or industry who have done similar cloud implementations so they can provide references, lessons learned and things to consider in your project. If able, attend a conference where you can network with others.
2. CHECK EXPERIENCE & CERTIFICATIONS
- If you are implementing newer technology, confirm the SI’s ability to deliver by verifying experience and/or certifications of the consultants. This can be done by requesting resumes.
- Confirm that those resources or others with similar experience will be part of the project.
3. PERFORM ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP
Take a bite of the elephant – Perhaps before you make your final selection for the full project, consider an assessment with various workshops first. In this assessment, you should expect the following for this scope of work:
- A limited timeline of up to 3 weeks – this is subject to the project size and footprint.
- Clear deliverables at the end such as requirements documentation, a roadmap or formal proposal for the rest of the project, and a prototype.
- Upon sign off or approval of the assessment, then a detailed scope of work (SOW) should be achievable for the remaining of the project. This time period should be used to assess the SI teams abilities to partner with your team, quality of their resources and deliverables, and ability to meet the timeline.
CONCLUSION
If you are uncertain about the full project or the SI, this is an appropriate time to pause the project without burning budget. You can also use the deliverables and lessons learned from the assessment to identify another SI. Do your due diligence.
Remember, this is your investment for the future!
