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Purchasing more seats than will actually be used.
This is probably the most common mistake of all. It's easy to get caught up in
the excitement of brining new technology on board and making a positive change.
The new system is going to be so much easier to use, everyone should want to be
part of this, right?
According to one recent survey, on average more than half the seats that are
paid for are not used. Why does this happen?
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First, the user voice isn't always heard, or heard
accurately, in defining the user requirements. If that's the case, you won't be
able to map user needs to the product functionality, and you'll have a tough
time selling it internally. |
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Secondly, although the system may appear to be user friendly to finance people
(who are accustom to wading through piles of disjointed spreadsheets), it may
not be intuitive to managers outside of finance, especially if they don't
receive adequate training. |
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Thirdly, if their isn't a change to the planning process
itself, it's "business as usual". If users were not engaged before,
they won't be now, even with new software. |
What can be done?
The Buttonwood Seven Step Process™ for finding and selecting a planning
software vendor encourages user participation in the process, the key to user
acceptance and commitment, in at least two key steps: Step 1:
Ask, Why Are We Doing This? and Step 3: Know What
You Want. In addition, you may want to develop a communications plan to
keep users well informed during the selection process. This will enhance the
sense of participation, and keep them appraised of progress. Finally, make
broad-based training a top priority, not an afterthought. Unless people really
know how to use a product, they'll avoid even opening it up.
If you have any questions about the process, or would like to find out how we
can support your efforts to find the right vendor for your circumstances,
please contact us.
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