One of the main challenges a company will have when creating an effective plan for managed IT services is in implementing that plan. Too often, ineffective deployment of IT services leaves gaps that make achieving the actual plan impossible. By using the following tips, businesses can work with their MSP services to ensure any issues are overcome so that actual technology implementation goes according to a formulated plan.
Determining Technology Requirements
One primary concern many companies have when formulating and implementing new IT services is failing to properly determine their actual technology requirements. Deployment of anything other than a system that will fulfill every need of the business only serves to reduce efficiency. It can fail to address the exact problems a new system is supposed to address in the first place.
Documenting technology must be done to determine required managed IT services and should involve monitoring at least six months worth of cycles to determine high and low priorities, understand the project scope, and establish an effective implementation plan. It should also include all personnel levels, from management to end users, while taking into account their roles and responsibilities within the company.
Upper Management Support
One reason for problems and even overall failure of the implementation of any new IT initiative is a lack of upper management support. Challenges are dependent on the size of the company and increase with company size. Without the support of appropriate upper level management, an initiative can flounder and be less accepted by those who will see and use the new IT.
It is imperative that Project Managers on behalf of that company's IT services recognize this quickly and push for an active executive sponsor early in the process. This support should be ongoing throughout the length of the project.
Technology and Over-Customization
Another concern that can negatively affect implementation of the right MSP services is over-customizing to please all individual users, yet failing to identify necessary base solutions that collectively serve all users. This can leave some users without enough resources and others with more than they actually need. It can also wreak havoc on the technology budget since money winds up being spent on the wrong solutions. Good communication within the organization is critical as is end users working together to determine how to stay productive within the scope of the new technology.
End-User Adoption Problems
Somewhat related to the previous two points, businesses often deal with resistance by end users to adopt new technology, rendering the entire deployment less effective than it needs to be. The best way to combat this issue is by involving end users in the planning steps, understanding their needs and how to serve them, and helping them recognize the benefits new technology will bring. This must include sufficient training so that users become familiar and comfortable with new technology.
Implementation Timelines
Timeline planning is another area where project managers tend to go wrong when planning and deploying new technology and MSP services. Often times, management requests a timeline before planning can even begin, which commonly means that projects run short of time at the end. To develop an accurate managed IT services implementation timeline, the planning needs to happen first.
Testing and Reporting
Two areas where many businesses attempt to save money in the IT services planning stage is in testing and reporting. Testing and troubleshooting are not as thorough as they should be before a full deployment is implemented. Similarly, reporting is underutilized or ignored with existing and newer technology, preventing planners from appreciating how the newer technology will affect the organization. For technology to be as effective as it is meant to be in the initial formulation, thorough testing and reporting must play an integral part in ensuring that the final deployment works the way it should.
Companies looking to improve their IT services and adopt a more effective use of technology must work carefully with MSP services to generate the best plan. This stratedy must clearly recognize the needs of the entire organization and how it will effectively provide for the company. Methods should be used to identify problems and estimate the plan's effectiveness before total deployment. By paying attention to these pitfalls, a company can employ the right managed IT services to be more productive based on what their employees actually need!
