I once spent 6 months trying to convince senior managers at one company that an Enterprise Architecture/Business Process Management tool couldn’t make decisions for them. They seemed to think they could use it to infallibly make investment decisions, like a kind of strategic Magic 8-ball. I can only assume that in their minds was a conversation that went something like this:
Executive: “EA Magic 8-ball, should we invest in ERP?”
EA tool: “It is certain.”
While this is an extreme, and obvious example that I’ve only slightly exaggerated, most of the time the idea that purchasing new technology can on its own drive your business forward is very, very seductive. We all love shiny, new technology! That’s especially true when there is a conga-line of consultants at your door, falling over themselves to tap into your constant hope that there might be an easier way to get things done with their exclusive, bleeding edge, game-changing software.
Yes, technology is often a Good Thing. BUT — if you have the wrong people working for you, it can’t help. If your systems and processes aren’t up to scratch, it can’t help.
On the other hand, if you’re already stone-cold certain that you’re doing all of the right things in your business, the right technology can be the super charger you need to extract the very best from your existing investment in people and business systems.
People, process, technology.
In that order!
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