Innovators Exchange
Technology Upgrades and Virtual Service Delivery
Lynn Bajorek
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Challenges: IT Upgrades
• Quick timeframes Pressure to get things done can lead to rushed
decision-making
• Integrating new ideas into an existing structure Have to be willing to re-write parts of your
system
• Getting staff on board with the change System tends to look the same which makes it
harder to change the way staff think about it
Challenges: Full System Development
• Managing the magnitude/Keeping up w/ Deadlines Human nature to procrastinate w/far away deadlines Tempting to “rob” time from an equally important area Need to chunk out project and set realistic deadlines for each
chunk
• Keeping up with technology changes Technology moves forward faster than the project ever could Adapting to new technology is risky
• Staff turnover Can slow down/kill a project or impede success New management may not be on board Can lose knowledge, background & momentum w/key staff 3
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Challenges: Overall
• Effective communication between IT and program staff
• Need “interpreters” who are: Close to both Policy and Technical Are well respected by all
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Lessons Learned
• Make data-driven decisions• Provides a solid basis for explaining
decisions later• Do your research on IT products• Lots of reputable freeware products out
there• Have lots of smart people working on the
project• No one person can or should have all the
answers• Find a “power champion”• You will always have “naysayers” but a
power champion can you carry you past them