Four phases of technology implementation strategy and staff communication

Strategic Technology Implementation: From Beginning to End Support Enables Success

The objective of this work is to write in detail how a new technology system should be implemented within a company. Included in the recommendations will be: (1) project plans; (2) implementation plans; (3) training plans; and (4) support strategies. This work will include whether the information in these four phases of implementation should be shared with technical and non-technical staff alike.

There are four phases to the implementation of technology within a company, which include the project-planning phase, the implementation phase, the training phase and the ongoing phase of providing strategic support for the technology that is implemented. Each of these phases is important in successful technology implementation within a company and each of these phases has specific characteristics in terms of information provision to technical and non-technical employees.

PROJECT PLANNING PHASE

The first phase of a technology implementation in the company is the project-planning phase. During this particular phase of the project, it is necessary that the needs that technology implemented must address be identified. Questions to ask include those of: (1) what does the technology need to be able to do? (2) What benefits will arise from the use of the technology being considered? (3) What are the costs of the technology initially and in the long-run Who will be using the technology and what training needs does the technology being implemented require?; and (5) What will be needed in terms of ongoing support and in ensuring the security of the company's critical information? A successful plan for implementation of technology includes four primary areas of focus: (1) equipment support tasks; (2) training; (3) methods of integration of the technology; and (4) assisting the effectiveness of the technology implementation. In order that the technology implementation initiative is, successful it is critical to understand the needs of the company and to align the information technology being used with the company as well as identify the types of information technology to be used which may include custom applications, package applications and integration applications. Other points to consider include the identification of users who need to access information and ensuring the information technology implemented in the company is easily adaptable to changes in the needs of the business, which result from business environment exchanges. Custom applications are those, which are tailored to the specific needs of the company while packaged applications are available to purchase and allow small modifications for the user. Integration applications are those, which integrate the existing information technology of the company with other newer systems needed by the company as the needs of the company change.

It is related in the work entitled: "Best Practices of Infocomm Technology Implementation: Guide for SMEs" that it is considered a best practice to ensure adoption of the technology that "addresses critical business issues" resulting in cost-savings and greater efficiency. Additionally related is: "Comprehensive business and technology planning involving key stakeholders and users must be done before it implementation or rollout." (nd) Therefore, both technical and non-technical employees should be involved in the planning phase of any technology implementation project. Stated among best practices in this area is that top management engagement throughout the entire process will "ensure an optimal outcome across the organization." (Best Practices of Infocomm Technology Implementation, nd) Finally, best practices include seeking external expert assistance "for guidance and valuable inputs, especially in the initial stages." (Best Practices of Infocomm Technology Implementation, nd)

III. PROJECT TRAINING PHASE

The project-training phase is one in which those who are trained in the project implementation phase take on the training of company employees for future utilization of the system. This is a critically important aspect of successful information technology implementation within a company. Lax or poor training in this phase of information technology implementation will result in issues arising later that result in costs in terms of time and money for the organization. Proper training for use of the new it in the organization should be done correctly the first time to avoid losses in terms of both time and money for the organization. Many of these mistakes are of the type that may be easily avoided through proper training, instruction, monitoring, mentoring -- all of which speak to the importance of the phase which follows the project training phase which is the ongoing, continuous and comprehensive support strategy phase of information technology implementation in an organization.

IV. SUPPORT STRATEGY PHASE

Of all of the phases of information technology implementation in an organization the support-strategy phase is the one of most importance. Security Issues as well are generally in the responsibility realm of support strategy. The support-strategy phase is the one phase that continuously and unceasingly as an undercurrent throughout the entire life of the technology in the organization.

SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

From the moment of conception through the planning, design and development phases and on through the roll-out, implementation, training, use, exploitation, and to the very moment of a technology's demise in the organization support is the most critical aspect of the technology. The reason this is so is because the individual who conceives the technology's application within the organization must likely support the planner's learning and in turn the designer and developers must garner support form the concept and the use knowledge available. Certainly, the trainers must be able to access information possessed those who conceived, designed and developed the technology in order to understand how to explain to the future users of the technology how they will be capable of using the technology to exploit the product or the data contained within the technology's capacity to present. Therefore, it is clear that the entire strategy of information technology implementation in the organization has as its basis strategic support considerations.

Strategic support provided to all phases of information technology implementation means talking about the technology from the beginning to non-technical and technical employees alike. The needs of technology have accompanying labor-role data needs. For instance, individuals at the front counter of organizations need to know how to record information in a coherent and standardized manner that expedites the data once entered. From technology architect to receptionist, it is vital that all employees have a basic understanding of processes and standards of information documentation relating to the technology introduced into the organization. Therefore, it is necessary that the organization enter a dialogue with employees of the organization relating to the technology. One method is introduction and updating through a newsletter sent out across various levels of the organization. The newsletter will provide information to employees customized for the various levels and the accompanying information that is relevant to specific employee groups within the organization and how their roles will likely be impacted by application of the technology.