In the digital age, deploying technology alone won't guarantee success. The 'go-live' is just the opening act, not the grand finale. True success is a verdict rendered over time. Here’s the bottom line: it's not about the tech; it's all about people's choices! It's your team's decision to embrace change or resist it that will define business success. Forget the fancy code and hardware; success is about tangible, game-changing results – streamlined processes, delighted customers, fatter revenue streams. In digital transformation, it's adapt or get left behind!
The Fallacy of Tech Deployment: Success Lies Beyond Go-Live
When a new technology is rolled out, there's often a lot of excitement and celebration. People might feel like they've already achieved success once the technology is up and running, but this is where a common mistake creeps in – it's what we call a category error.
This misunderstanding can muddle the whole idea of success in digital transformation. The reality is that true success isn't a done deal right after the launch. It's only when people make the deliberate choice to use the technology effectively that success starts to take shape.
This distinction is hugely important, and it can make or break a digital transformation effort. See, it's not about the technology itself; it's about how it's put to work by the people in the organization. Their choices, actions, and adaptability are what steer the course of success.
A technical launch is just the beginning of the journey, not the finish line. Success is something that unfolds over time, based on how well the technology is embraced and used by the people it's meant to help.
The Technology Mirage
The mistake is thinking tech alone equals success. It's like believing a fancy pen makes you a great writer. In reality, the pen is just a tool. Being a successful writer needs skill, creativity, strategy, and effort.
Similarly, in digital transformation, tech isn't the whole story. Success depends on how people use it, adapt to it, and work with it. Tech is just one part, like a piece of a bigger puzzle. It's people who really make the difference.
So, in digital transformation, tech is a tool. People, their choices, actions, and adaptability, are what shape real success.
“People don’t want a quarter inch drill. They want a quarter inch hole” Theodore Levitt
People Power
In digital transformation, it's all about the people. They're the secret sauce that determines whether a new technology becomes a game-changer or just sits on the shelf gathering dust. This whole process is a bit like a journey with different steps – the innovation/decision process.
First, there's the part where people learn about the new tech and decide if it's worth using. This is where they weigh the pros and cons. Then, they make the call: do they go for it or not?
Once they decide to give it a shot, they need to actually use it in their day-to-day work. That's where adaptability comes into play. How well they adapt to the new way of doing things can make a huge difference.
Leadership plays a big role too. Good leaders guide and support their team through this journey. They create an environment where everyone gets involved and makes the most of the technology.
The 'Go-Live' Fallacy
The 'go-live' moment is often misunderstood as success, like a ribbon-cutting at the start of a race. But it's just the beginning. True success is measured over time, not at the launch event. It depends on how the technology actually affects the organization. This impact is mainly shaped by the choices individuals make about the technology. It's about whether they decide to use it in their daily work or resist it. These choices determine if the organization succeeds. The technology, on its own, doesn't bring success. It's the people using it, their collective decisions, that drive an organization toward its digital transformation goals.
Outcomes, Not Outputs
In digital transformation, outputs are what you produce, like installing software or writing code. But what truly matters are outcomes – these are the actual improvements, like getting tasks done faster, making customers happier, or earning more money.
We pay attention to outcomes because they help us achieve our big goals. Think of outputs as steps along the way, while outcomes are the ultimate destination. They let us know if the technology is making a real impact and if we need to adjust our plans.
So, keep in mind that success isn't just about having fancy technology. It's not just about code or hardware. Success is about making real changes in how your organization operates. This means working more efficiently, ensuring customer satisfaction, and achieving the specific goals you set for your transformation journey.
In simple terms, success is what happens when digital changes truly make your organization better at what it does, how it competes, and how it grows.
What about “Agile”?
And if Agile’s (capital “A”) your thing (or some variant of it like “Fr-agile”, “W-agile” and B-adgile”) this perspective fits well, especially when we talk about success after the technology goes live.
In Agile, success isn't just about putting technology in place or finishing small work cycles (sprints). It's about what happens next. Agile's way of working, with its frequent small cycles, lets teams make tech more useful and valuable over time. This matches the idea that in digital transformation, success isn't decided at the start but grows as people use the tech and see its impact.
Also, think of the Agile "control tower" as a tool for strategic planning and quick adjustments, like keeping an eye on a project in real-time. This matches the idea that success isn't a one-time thing; it keeps evolving.
Now, when you add enterprise change management to the mix, it becomes clear that it plays a crucial role. It helps ensure that digital transformations stay flexible, work well, and align with big goals.
Enterprise Change Management
Enterprise change management focuses on the human side of things. It guides people through the process of getting used to and using new technology smoothly. It's not just about getting them on board at the beginning but making sure they keep contributing to the success of the transformation, even after the tech is set up.
Take Aways
Tech Alone Isn't Enough: Just having technology isn't success; it's only the start.
People Are Vital: Success depends on what people choose to do and how they adapt to changes.
Steps in Deciding: People go through stages like learning, deciding, trying, using, and confirming when they adopt new tech.
Leaders Matter: Good leaders help people through these stages, making sure they get involved.
Be Active: It's not just about accepting tech; people need to actively use it to make a difference.
Measure Real Success: Success isn't just about the tech itself; it's about real-world improvements like working better, making customers happy, and earning more.
Keep Checking: Success is an ongoing journey; we need to see how things are going over time, not just at the start.
People Power: Tech doesn't work alone; it's how people use it that drives success.
Tangible Benefits: Success means actual improvements in how things are done, like better processes, happier customers, and more money.
Adapt or Lose: In digital transformation, being open to new ideas and actively using tech sets successful organizations apart from the rest.
References
Levitt T | Wikiquote
Prosci® | Enterprise Change Management
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