Questions to Ask Before Implementing a Technology Change

It can be exciting to introduce new technology into your business. Finding a solution that will help your team members do their jobs more efficiently and effectively by filling a gap in your IT technology infrastructure is certainly an achievement. Before implementing change to your technology, step back and ask yourself a few questions. It may make the transition go much easier.

Remember, change isn’t always easy for everyone. It can be hard to predict whether end users will readily accept or resist the change. Before implementing new technology, you need a well-planned change management strategy to help you achieve success and get the most out of your investment.

Change management is an approach that deals with changes or transformations in organizational processes, objectives and technology. The goal of change management is to devise strategies to implement and govern transformation while helping people adjust to it.

There are a few factors to consider before beginning your change management journey.

Ask these questions before making a technology change:

1. What is being changed?

It’s critical to review your business environment first to identify critical areas that require a technological refresh as soon as possible.

Assume you are starting a transition from backup solution “X” to backup solution “Y.” Before implementation, spend some time assessing what the backup solution “X” lacks, why it needs an update and how important it is.

2. What will this change mean for people, processes and technology?

Communication is essential for a successfully driving technological change. Make sure you develop strategies to help your employees adapt to any changes.

Make sure you meet with team member to understand the implications of pulling systems offline for updates. Ask yourself what processes need to be modified and the ramifications to individuals who oversee them.

3. Who will manage the change?

Identify those who will be in charge during the transition & include their contact information in all communications. It’s a great idea to have an executive guide your project forward and hold you accountable for deviations from your objectives.

4. When is the best time to implement this change?

It’s critical to determine the best time to implement a change. A lot of care must go into deciding when to introduce a transformation.

If you’re about to embark on a new transition, but your employees are still dealing with the effects of previous changes, it may be a good idea to postpone the planned transformation if possible. On the flip side, if your employees have adjusted well to a recent change, then introducing a new transition could work out just as well.

5. How long will the change take?

Laying out a plan to transition to the technology is highly recommended, this will cause less confusion and employee frustration. Setting a realistic deadline and striving to meet it is critical.

6. Who will reach out to support if something goes wrong?

No change is immune to unexpected setbacks. That’s why it is critical to have emergency contacts of people with various skillsets to call upon in the event of a mishap. However, finding people with the necessary skillsets and knowledge base is tricky.

Collaboration with a managed service provider (MSP) who can support you in emergency and non-emergency situations can be a good idea.

Find the right partner

Change is a challenging experience. You risk damaging key processes and losing valuable team members to burnout if you don’t have a good change management strategy in place. For information before taking a big leap with technology in your business, contact Catalyst IT at 877-843-9611 or click on our Contact Us Page.

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