IT Modernization: Pitfalls to Avoid
With over 50 years of collective experience, lessons learned, and general wisdom, you would think that major IT projects wouldn’t fail at such an alarming rate–66% or more. But here we are, well into the 21st century, and the global success rate for major IT projects is still miserable.
Why do IT projects fail?
Survey after survey points to the same culprits, including:
- Poor planning: Many organizations fail to plan for personnel backfill, potential operational disruption, or unknown contingencies. The first unexpected snag throws the whole project off the rails.
- Poor executive support: Everyone should see A major IT project as a top priority, and that message must come from the executive leadership. And not just as cheerleaders–executives need to be active participants, typically in a steering committee role.
- Poor project management: Major IT initiatives demand experienced project managers who know how to get things done, control costs, and handle unexpected obstacles.
- Poor or nonexistent end-user involvement: The end users know the most about the shortcomings of the existing systems and know best what they need to get their jobs done better. Too often, a new system is crammed down their throats without considering their needs, resulting in disaster.
Avoiding IT Modernization Failure
IT modernization projects can be pretty complex and are no less prone to failure than any other IT project. A complete list of mistakes to avoid is well beyond the scope of this article, but here are the top pitfalls to avoid:
“It’s Just an IT Project”
When the business sees an IT modernization project as a project by IT, for IT, it’s bound to fail. It must be understood by everyone, from the CEO on down, that IT modernization is a business initiative that will reap tangible benefits. All stakeholders should be expected to participate and contribute.
“Just Pick the Cheapest Option”
When selecting a technology solution, you should consider multiple options, and most organizations do. Too many, however, make their decisions based on project cost alone. This is a mistake for many reasons, including:
- Project cost doesn’t reflect the total cost of ownership over the solution’s lifetime. A solution with low startup costs but high ongoing costs may not be the best choice.
- The solution with the lowest cost may not provide the highest return on the investment. No two solutions are exactly alike, so it’s imperative to determine the expected benefit of each option over its lifetime.
- A partner that offers a much lower cost estimate than their competitors may be lowballing you to get your business, expecting to make it up in additional billable hours. This underhanded tactic often sabotages the project.
“Can We Add This One Thing?”
From the outset, it’s essential to define what business problems you intend to solve and stick to that scope. Adding “little” things to the area is tempting, but it’s hard to stop once you start doing that. The result is runaway scope creep that increases the cost and complexity of the project.
How Solution Machine Can Help
The consultants at Solution Machine have extensive experience with IT modernization projects and employ a proven methodology that yields successful results with minimal disruption. We know what to do–and just as important, what not to do–to make your modernization dream a reality.
Contact Solution Machine today to learn how we can design your IT modernization project and keep it on the path to success.