Posts Tagged ‘Implementation’
Monday, July 14th, 2008
An organizational change discussion was introduced with the following “How many process improvement consultants does it take to change a light bulb? One, but only if the light bulb really wants to change.” The topic’s title included the word “inertia” indicating that change is resisted. So how do you reduce resistance? Regardless of the type of change being implemented, a successful project always requires support from the top of the organization. Management support and directives motivate people.
Even when people are highly motivated, change can be stressful and scary. As we age and move into the over 50, senior citizen ranks, it is more difficult to change. The spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak or inflexible. People issues have crippled project of all kinds project – whether technology or process, or organizational structure or management. Stress and post implementation distress must be expected and accommodated.
Bottom line: To make an organizational change successful, it has to be well planned, with simple steps that are well communicated.
See the July Newsletter for details about Michael Nearman of AGSI who addressed the June 2008 Atlanta SPIN (Software & Systems Process Improvement Network) meeting.
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
Tags: Are You Voting For Change, Atlanta, blog, Business, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, Change, Change Management, Consultant, consulting, Implementation, management, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, Post Implementation Distress, Process, project, project management, Sandra Noble, Software, Strategy
Posted in Are You Voting For Change, Business, Change Management, Post Implementation Distress, Process, Senior Citizen / Baby Boomer, Technology | No Comments »
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008
MARKETING -
Small Budget, Big Impact!
Friday, April 18, 2008
3:30 PM – 7:30 PM
At
The Knowledge Shop
Only $79.00, by April 16
$85.00 After April 16
Get More Info Now!
Directions:
Go to http://www.ksatlanta.com/
Knowledge Shop
(at the far corner of the Wal-Mart parking lot)
Marietta Trade Center
180 Cobb Pkwy SE #C-24
Marietta, GA 30060
In this seminar you will
· Learn internet marketing tools, tips, strategies and concepts
· Receive step by step instructions
· Get a hands-on opportunity to apply what you’ve learn.
· Leave with a web presence and a business email account.
Prerequisites:
· Knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Office products: Word, Excel, Outlook
· Beginning level experience with the Internet
Specific topics include:
· Marketing Concepts
· Creating a web presence (bring your credit cards)
· Opt-in pages
· Contact databases and Autoresponders
· Online Marketing Techniques (emails, article, etc)
· Traffic generation and getting leads
· Available resources
For More Information,
Contact Sandra at:
404-374-3384 or info@NobleAdvantage.com
www.GetPeopleToComeToWebPage.com
Give Me More Info Now!
Tags: blog, Business, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, consulting, Finance, get people to web page, get people to website, Implementation, internet marketing, lead generation, market on the web, marketing funnel, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, online marketing, political, Process, Process Improvement, Sandra Noble, Senior citizen, Social Network, Strategy, Technology, Ways to Attract Customers
Posted in Business, Marketing, Strategy, Technology | 1 Comment »
Sunday, March 16th, 2008
I was perusing BPM Strategies magazine and came across the term “applistructure “. Applistructure has to do with the convention of combining enterprise infrastructure and enterprise business applications. Service-oriented architecture (SOA) refers to a web centric / web focused approach to technology. According to the “SOA and Application Infrastructure” article by Mike Rosen, this applistructure trend was hot a couple of years ago. Can you relax? Or, as Mr. Rosen suggests, can you take comfort in knowing that solving management and business process issues are more critical to enterprise success than the actual technology?
I attended the Atlanta AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) February 2008 meeting. The speaker, Mr. Joe Capps talked about the subject of moving to enterprise level systems and procurement processes. Instead of haphazardly developing technology in an “after the fact” manner, he advocated a more proactive approach – as in developing a strategy to move toward enterprise infrastructure, enterprise business applications and enterprise technology in general.
Additionally, a key imperative of the Department of Defense (DoD) is to change and accelerate the requirement to solution process. What’s known as Moore’s Law (based on Gordon Moore’s predictions about semiconductors), says that technology is rapidly changing. Probably about every 18 months. Where there is a need for the latest technology, Moore’s Law has financial, logistical and feasibility implications. The government and the DoD are known for red tape and cumbersome processes. But our country’s ability to respond to immediate threats requires current, accurate information delivered to those needing it in a timely fashion. He suggested the criticality of providing our war fighters with decision making data on how to even respond to five guys running down a street in Iraq. Wow!
Moore’s Law has implications in the private sector as well. Large scale technology projects often take 18 months or more to implement. That time is in addition to the time required to budget for, select and procure the software, hardware, and implementation partners. While ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) and the like, may not be obsolete, there are sure to be upgrades, patches (corrections and fixes to software problems) and new feature by the time the system is finally rolled out.
So, what can be done? Knowledgeable consultants with system expertise can help companies and public sector entities develop a strategy and select the right software in the first place. Then, the right implementation partners can accelerate and provide Independent Verification and Validations (IV&V), project management and governance throughout the implementation process. If none of these things were in place or addressed during the course of the technology project, then you’ll probably need the cure for the “Post Implementation Distress” that is sure to occur.
You’re spending millions of dollars for enterprise initiatives. Wouldn’t it be worth spending a small percentage on ensuring that you get what you paid for? Perhaps you need a technical advocate to help you navigate through the planning and implementation process.
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
Tags: AFCEA, applistructure, Atlanta, blog, BPM, Business, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, Change, Consultant, consulting, CRM, Department of Defense, DoD, enterprise, ERP, Finance, Implementation, infrastructure, IV&V, MES, Moore's Law, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, Post Implementation Distress, Process, Process Improvement, Requirements, Sandra Noble, SOA, Software, Strategy, Technology
Posted in Business, Finance, Process, Requirements, Software, Strategy, Technology | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
I keep finding myself drawn to this 2.0 stuff – whether Web 2.0 or Enterprise 2.0. Atlanta appears to have large following and fan base of these concepts and techniques. I’m still working on getting the terms straight. At times, I’m not sure whether I should be using “social media” or “social networking”. One thing I do know: I need to keep tabs on what’s going on with Web 2.0.
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is an umbrella group consisting of technology special interest group communities / societies. The newest society is called TAG Enterprise 2.0, and its focus is to explore and educate on Web 2.0 technology movement. Perhaps this phenomenon could be better described as a revolution and societal paradigm shift. It’s already second nature to the under thirty crowd. The wave is spreading to the over 30, over 40 and over 50 populations. And, this technology is being embraced more and more by the business community.
The first TAG Enterprise 2.0 meeting (March 5, 2008), featured Puneet Gupta, CEO and Founder of Connectbeam. Connectbeam’s product is used behind corporate firewalls for searching, tagging, social bookmarking and social networking. What they add to typical Google searches, is the ability to see
1) Who else in the organization has searched on the same thing?
2) The intent, context or tags associated with the prior searches.
3) The ability to connect with others doing similar searches.
Finally an application and strategy that makes sense for businesses of all sizes. Connectbeam already has an impressive list of clients, starting with Honeywell as their first customer. The implementation of this product enables companies to control their data, integrate with existing IT infrastructure, and incorporate data access and security requirements. Connectbeam’s product allows companies to measure the rate of adoption and increases in productivity as a result of implementing an Enterprise 2.0 framework.
I guess it’s innovate or be left behind.
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
Tags: Atlanta, blog, Business, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, Community, connectbeam, data security, Enterprise 2.0, Finance, Google, Implementation, infrastructure, Innovation, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, Sandra Noble, Senior citizen, Social Bookmarking, Social Media, Social Network, Social Networking, Strategy, TAG, TAGent2.0, Technology, Technology Association of Georgia, web 2.0
Posted in Business, Strategy, Technology | No Comments »
Friday, February 29th, 2008
It’s pronounced “Web two dot oh“. And, it seems I’m on track in exploring this Web 2.0 stuff. Web 2.0 is impacting the government as well as the presidential campaign. Many feel that embracing this new technology paradigm is one of the keys to the success of Barack Obama’s campaign. I think it was part of his strategy to implement and use Web 2.0 for competitive advantage.
As I mentioned in a prior article, all are impacted by this new internet / technology revolution. It may be directly by you accessing blogs, joining online social networks or accepting networking connection invitations. It may be indirect by your children or grandchildren helping you to do google and yahoo searches and researches. Or it could just be a societal impact. Whether you like it or not, those who embrace Web 2.0 and other internet features are affecting the way we run our businesses, purchase goods and services, donate money and run political campaigns.
This phenomenon is even being reported in government newsletters and government related article. It was reported that the U.S. Joint Forces Command’s (JFCOM) has set up a website to facilitate Web 2.0 activity. The membership of AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) provides communications, IT, intelligence, and global security solutions to the military. The article “AFCEA Solutions Series Blazes New E-Trails” is all about Web 2.0.
A recent title in the Government Technology hnewletter was “E-Vote: Tapscott Says Web 2.0 Will Determine Presidential Campaign Advantage”. And who is Tapscott? Don Tapscott is author of Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything (Portfolio 2006). In my “What’s a Wiki” article on February 10th, I tried to put mind energy around the concept of a Wiki. Suffice it to say, a Wiki is one of those Web 2.0 things. Tapscott’s “Wikinomics” terms suggests that there is an economic impact to the use of Wiki’s.
Watch out for Wiki’s and Web 2.0.
WWW – It’s what’s happening now!
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
Tags: 2008 presidential election, AFCEA, Atlanta, Barack Obama, blog, Business, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, consulting, Finance, Implementation, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, political, Process, Process Improvement, Sandra Noble, Senior citizen, Social Network, Strategy, Technology, web 2.0, Wiki
Posted in Business, Finance, Marketing, Process, Strategy, Technology | 1 Comment »
Friday, February 22nd, 2008
I was recently on an airplane perusing the in flight catalog. Have you ever seen anyone actually order something on a domestic flight? I haven’t. But the fact that these books continue to appear in seat back pockets, is evidence that they are effective revenue generators. And, they have a lot of neat gadgets and things.
The headline for one product talked about boosting your prestige and your hearing at the same time. This product was basically a hearing aid which looked like a Bluetooth mobile phone headset. So the implication was that it is cool and prestigious to walk around with a phone headset in and on your ear. Once again I was reminded that I am probably out of step with mainstream thinking.
Am I the only one who thinks it is sometimes in poor taste to be wearing those “things”. I’ve seen people posing for pictures and even speaking in front of an audience with the above mentioned head gear. Now I know I’m over 50. And I go back to rotary dial phones where you had to stick your finger in a circle slot and rotate for each number. In those days wireless and cordless was unheard of. But, most people who need hearing assistance are over 50 like me. (Although that may change, since the younger generation is ruining their ears with loud music.) I’d be interested to know if the effectiveness of that particular advertisement for hearing aids. Someone thought that was a good idea.
Do babyboomers think Bluetooth is a status symbol? And, do we need to be that connected, where we don’t miss a call? With all these communications & telecommunications, are we really communicating better? Or, just faster and more frequently?
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
Tags: Atlanta, blog, Business, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, Consultant, consulting, Implementation, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, Process, Process Improvement, Sandra Noble, Senior citizen, Technology, telecom, telecommunications
Posted in Business, Finance, Marketing, Technology | No Comments »
Thursday, February 21st, 2008
I attended the Atlanta APICS meeting the other day. Juergen Meyer from Step 3 Consulting spoke about Lean in administrative processes. Now APICS, The Association for Operations Management, offers three certification programs, Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), and Certified in Integrated Resource Management (CIRM). As a result, much of the audience and much of the membership is from the manufacturing arena. I’m a CPIM member of APICS Atlanta. And, I’m a bit of an oddball in the group, since I’ve had a long career in information technology. But, I’ve also earned Six Sigma certification to assist in the process improvement and re-engineering activities that often take place in technology projects. Six Sigma utilizes data and statistical analysis to measure and reduce variations in processes and ultimately eliminate defects. More and more, Six Sigma and Lean are spoken of together.
In Juergen’s talk, there was much mention of process improvement, although Six Sigma was not mentioned by name. The goal of Lean is to eliminate waste and non-value added activities. And the byproduct of waste elimination is lower costs resulting in higher profits. The eight types of waste are: over production, waiting, transportation, over-processing, inventory, motion, defects, rework. Parallels were given between manufacturing waste and administrative waste.
And, how to attack the waste? You Define, Measure, Analyze and Improve the process – key steps in the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology. Often the implementation of the Six Sigma methodology or its use in projects is considered costly and time consuming. But the principles can be simplified. After all over-processing is a waste. The goal is a Lean Six Sigma.
Bottom line, improving and streamlining processes reduces defects, eliminates waste, decreases costs, improves efficiency, increases profits and provides competitive advantages.
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
Tags: APICS, Atlanta, blog, Business, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, Change, CIRM, Consultant, consulting, CPIM, CSCP, defects, DMAIC, Finance, Implementation, Lean, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, Post Implementation Distress, Process, Process Improvement, project, re-engineering, Sandra Noble, Six Sigma, Software, Strategy, Technology, waste
Posted in Business, Finance, Process, Process Improvement, Strategy, Technology | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
My hairdresser, Joy (quintessencehair.com), told me the theme for this year could be “no more wait in 2008”. By that she meant to convey was that the time has come for both my businesses, Noble & Associates Consulting, Inc. and Noble Finances to be outrageously successful.
But, my first interpretation of her remark was “no more weight in 2008”. I like many other people need to shed some excess pounds. For many, the race is on to fix the body. Every January, there’s a big surge in the number of people at the gyms. Some turn to over-the-counter weight loss remedies and others head to the commercial weight center such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and the like. The more enlightened might turn to Overeaters Anonymous (OA). It’s based on the same principles as Alcoholic Anonymous. So, OA has a 3 pronged approach, which treats overeating as a threefold disease – physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual.
Most would agree that lasting success with the battle against the bulge requires at least a mind and body cure. There are bi-modal techniques which focus on the healing mental / emotional triggers as a means to healing or slimming the body. Examples are psychoanalysis, acupressure, acupuncture, hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).
I actually attended a NLP workshop a number of years ago. NLP encompasses multiple techniques which are used to accomplish quick changes in behavior. There was a lady in the NLP class who was claustrophobic. In 5 minutes the lady was able to go into a closet and close the door and be happy about it. I saw that with my own eyes.
With NLP, the mind/body connection is studied, documented and utilized to make changes. One example is eye movements. Eyes moving up tends to means you are visualizing or accessing an image. Moving eyes to either side indicates you accessing sound data. Down to the right can mean you’re accessing a feeling. NLP uses eye movements and other physical cues as an indication of how people learn best – hearing, seeing or doing. And our language often reveals our preferences. For instance I worked for a boss who often used the phrase “I hear you”. What do think his preferred learning style was?
Knowing the NLP principles, allows me to notice when these techniques are used in other arenas. NLP is now being incorporated into sales training workshops. Kendall SummerHawk, a marketing and branding guru / coach, indicated that she is certified in NLP. Kendall uses NLP in her workshop to quickly help participants get over writers block.
I’m always working on generating more profitable business. People buy from those they know, like and trust. To the extent that I can get in sync with their body language the more comfortable they feel with me. It’s not manipulation, it’s about caring enough to pay attention, to observe and to adjust. This improves the experience of the prospect, friends or family member.
I have many years of experience as a business analyst. My company, Noble & Associates Consulting, Inc, specializes in business analysis. And what does a business analyst do:
- We listen,
- We interpret or analyst the situation, data or system,
- We compile and document.
Good business analysts, and for that matter good managers, sales people, business people, people in general already listen. If we want to add value to our relationships and effectiveness, we need to add the NLP techniques of conscious seeing and feeling to our repertoire.
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
Tags: Analyst, Atlanta, blog, Business, Business Analysis, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, Change, Change Management, Consultant, consulting, Implementation, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, NLP, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, Process, Process Improvement, Sandra Noble, Software, Strategy
Posted in Business, Marketing, Process, Requirements, Strategy | 4 Comments »
Monday, February 18th, 2008
I worked for the telecommunications superstar, Lucent Technologies, right before it’s big fall from financial grace. I was fortunate to be in the CIO organization which was lead by a very visionary executive, Earnestine Barnes-Linder. She encouraged us to prepare for the changes that she so wisely foresaw. Earnestine even distributed copies of the book “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Dr. Spencer Johnson. I attended a workshop by the author and was less than impressed. But, when I finally took the time to read the book, it was indeed outstanding. Mr. Johnson is an expert on individual and organizational change. The book gave insight into how to recognize that your cheese or goal had moved and provided suggestions on how to work through the feelings and adjust to change. However, there are other books that provide more substance and detail on stress and change management techniques.
Noble & Associates Consulting and its consultants have years of experience with software and technology implementations. The whole point of any new system is to change or improve some process, capability or results. Since there is always change and people are stressed by change, then change management should always be a consideration in project funding, planning and management.
So what’s the cheese?
- For an individual, it might have been owning a home. The current mortgage crisis may be moving that cheese.
- For others, it might be life long employment with a company paid pension. The economy and corporate mergers, acquisitions and downsizing may have changed that cheese.
- For production managers the cheese may be efficient operations and on-time deliveries. Disruptions in the supply chain, broken processes and quality problems may be crumbling that cheese.
- The corporate executive may have thought that the latest and greatest system or technology was the cheese. However, cost overruns, unrealized functionality and out of sync processes could be slicing away at that cheese.
- For the average employee, the cheese may be to feel like they are competent and even expert at doing the job. The introduction of a new system or technology, and the need to learn new ways of doing things, could be the last straw.
In the final analysis, it doesn’t matter what caused your cheese to change. Change happens. Stress happens. Deal with it.
Consider implementing stress management and change management programs.
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
Tags: Atlanta, blog, Business, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, Change, Change Management, Consultant, consulting, Finance, funding, Implementation, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, Post Implementation Distress, Process, Process Improvement, project, project management, re-engineering, Sandra Noble, Software, Strategy, Stress, Stress Management, Technology, telecom
Posted in Business, Finance, Process, Requirements, Strategy, Technology | No Comments »
Sunday, February 17th, 2008
GOD, grant me the Serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference.
The Serenity Prayer
In software and technology implementation projects, there needs to be something called “Change Control”. And why is this needed? No matter how thorough the business analysis job or how complete the project plan, there’s always something that needs to be changed or added after the fact. Users and potential users of the system or technology change their minds. Or think of something that they absolutely cannot live without. Then from the technical side, the developers, programmers and implementers discover things that are incorrect or just won’t work. Programmers or testers find things called “bugs” – which is techie talk for errors or system glitches. After all, that’s what quality, quality control and testing is supposed to do – Find things that will cause less than desired results.
Testing and quality is key. And it needs to start at the beginning. Once the technology requirements are finalized, you have the basis for test scripts that can be used throughout the implementation process. There will be change. So, there needs to be an orderly process for incorporating changes and corrections / fixes.
One reason is that it helps insure that everyone on the project is in sync. It avoids duplication of effort. And, it’s less disruptive when there are multiple environments (development / test versus live / production) or multiple release versions. It’s an essential piece of the communications plan. Change control is a recipe for success. And, back to the Serenity Prayer: the introduction of new systems, features or functionality is something that can be controlled. And the smart project manager has the courage to mandate a change control process.
What we cannot change is people and how they react to change. Change, even positive change, creates stress – another thing we can’t change. What we can control is the implementation and use of programs and techniques that ease the pain and stress of change. And that’s called Change Management.
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
Tags: blog, Business, Business Over 50, businessover50.com, Change, Change Management, Consultant, consulting, Finance, Implementation, Noble & Associates Consulting, Noble Finances, Post Implementation Distress, Process, Process Improvement, project, project management, Quality, re-engineering, Requirements, Sandra Noble, Software, Strategy, Tags: Atlanta, Technology, Testing
Posted in Business, Finance, Process, Process Improvement, Software, Strategy, Technology | No Comments »