Success Or Failure? The human factor in the implementation of Information Systems

Information has become the new currency of business, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the collection, creation, and management of information can provide businesses with a significant competitive advantage. However, the sheer volume, velocity, and variety of data that is now available to companies make it necessary to use customized information systems to manage it all. This is where the challenge lies, as introducing these systems often requires a radical change in the way people used to work before the introduction of the system.

The human factor is the most unpredictable in the equation of successful implementation and the most common reason for the failure of IT projects. Therefore, the implementation of new information systems must take into account the dynamics and the characteristics of a company's people and their training needs. The company's employees must be willing and able to learn and adapt to the new systems, or even contribute to their design. Additionally, the company's infrastructure must be able to support these changes.

Before implementing new information systems, businesses should ask themselves a few key questions to determine where they stand in this challenge:

• What is the top management commitment to information technologies?
• How satisfied are the users of the existing IT systems?
• Are there enough human resources to help the business diversify and gain a competitive advantage in an era where knowledge in the technology sector is increasing daily at an exponential rate?
• If the necessary knowledge does not exist, how easy is it to acquire it?
• Do the human resources have the willingness but also the ability to absorb the new knowledge that will be acquired and adapt to the new circumstances?
• Is there the infrastructure to support these changes?

Every company can give its own answers to the above questions and obviously the answers among each company will be different.

Epson has just completed a survey to explore what European workers believe that will be affected by technology in the companies in which they work. (find the research here).

It is a fact that business adaptation of new technologies is burdensome for businesses, and this is reflected in the results where 59% of the employees believe it will increase the operating costs and therefore the likelihood of companies adjusting to the information era. On the other hand, 79% of respondents believe that technology could improve the performance of their company and that it would result in extra revenues.

There are three ways for a company to get in the technology game:

1. To design its own IT system by creating its own platform and unite its customers on it.
2. Engage with other companies to jointly build an IT system and
3. Enroll in the existing "ecosystem" by setting a clear partnership proposal to find a point of added value.

Regardless of the approach, current industrial dynamics show that tomorrow's leaders must act today!

The priority is critical.

This article intends to inform the reader and in no way substitutes the specialized consulting services. For more information, please contact MDC Stiakakis SA (Monis Kardiotisis 49, Heraklion | +30 2810 280985)