The July/August 2010 edition of CFMA’s ‘Building Profits’ magazine focussed on IT Solutions, and featured an interesting article by Fred J. Ode on how to avoid new software implementations failing. In it, he argues that end users are the key to success of any new software implementation, and we couldn’t agree more.
It is interesting to note that of the top seven reasons why so many software implementations fail, the number one is a lack of user buy in. Having to learn how to use a few new software programs myself, I know that new systems are confusing, unfamiliar and difficult to use. Sadly, these factors can often overwhelm end users and as a result they may not use the software to its full potential or, in some cases, not use it at all.
One of the brilliant things about IPM though is its ability to interface with Microsoft Outlook®, something many of our clients appreciate as they can provide their employees with new software that is already somewhat familiar. As many project managers already use MS Outlook for their day to day business, it seems only logical that in order to improve user adoption, we integrate with something they already know. As a result, it’s easy to have all the documents relating to a project set out in folders in your MS Outlook, just like you would organise emails.
I was at a wedding a few months ago and got chatting to a project manager on my table about this and his eyes lit up when he heard about Outlook integration. “What a great idea,” he said. Yes, we think so too.