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The human systems that produce work should be supported by data systems designed to make their work easier, faster and more accurate. Surprisingly, many organizations try to put such systems into place without consulting the people who are going to use them. Data System Alignment is the name given to fitting data systems, after installation, to the organizations they serve. We prefer to accomplish the same objectives prior to installation, during System Selection and Specification. Doing this planning prior to system design or purchase is much more cost-effective, and it simplifies change management at implementation. Review of existing systems and specification of new systems are a natural offshoots of business process reengineering experience. In fact, no new system should be specified, designed, or implemented without a through review of the business processes it is supposed to support. The methodology for determining the system needs of an organization and its workforce is similar to that discussed in the "Business Process Reengineering" page. An additional step is required for system specification or alignment. That step is the restatement of business needs as system requirements. This translation function is critical, since system developers typically have very different language and life experience from their end users. Stanton Group professionals have spent the last ten years learning to bridge this communication gap. We routinely work with programming and system development groups from system concept work through installation. The best system implementations happen when the workforce is waiting anxiously for their new system. This situation can be created only when the new system is designed to meet the needs of the workforce as expressed in the specification phase. Conversely, the worst implementations, and the least productive systems, result when a new system is thrust upon a workforce who have not been solicited for their thoughts about its design. This is equally true whether the software is an off-the-shelf purchase or a custom design. |
See also:  Business Process Reengineering |
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The Stanton Group www.stangroup.com |