Change Management: Is It in Your Future?
Success or Struggle
In my years as a Technical Account Manager, I have seen many customers achieve impactful success implementing TBM with Apptio. I have also seen a few struggle when it came time to cross the finish line. The great difference between customers who were Successful and those who Struggled came down to Change Management. A key indicator of success is a well-designed change management plan. TBM is a new concept and a different way of running IT than the Wild West openness of the past four decades of early IT. Replacing old F&A methodology or introducing new transparency requires a business shift.
What is Change Management?
Change Management is an approach intended to aid employees and organizations in shifting to new practices and operational structures. It needs strong top-level sponsorship, but it’s just as important to have strong collaboration between all employees from the lowest rung of the ladder to the highest. In the context of TBM it is a conduit for adoption of new data and new ways to gain visibility into IT costs. It begins with a full analysis of your current processes and identifies objectives, content, and process for change in building the plan.
There’s plenty of information on Change Management processes online. Read more about the “Kotter 8-Step Process”, Change Management, and Organizational Change Management. The top four factors of successful Change Management common to TBM rollouts to focus on are:
- 1. Identify stakeholders and define measurable goals that include business cases for achievement.
- 2. Monitor risks, costs, and Return on Investment.
- 3. Develop effective communication (Why, What’s in it for you, When) that includes an effective training plan.
- 4. Stay agile enough to fine-tune the plan as needed.
When you plan for a successful TBM implementation, you add all the ingredients necessary to prevent your TBM Office from Struggling and circumvent adoption issues. With Change Management, you keep IT on the path to Success!