Talking Business Archives - The MrT Podcast Studio MrT

Your Big Project - Series 1 Episode 13 - Review

Welcome to Review, the last talk in the series 'Your Big Project'. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We have considered the good, the bad and the extremely ugly throughout the series!



The Review is where you learn from the successes and mistakes in your project . If you have skipped steps or haven't done things thoroughly enough this is where you start to understand the factors that contributed to your disaster! Remember that a lack of commitment in the delivery of a successful solution can kill a successful business.

The Review Meeting:



Long enough after go-live to know how it went, but not too long as otherwise you'll forget the details

Invite the key players (global, regional and local) but no JFDIs

Understand the What and the Why - for both the successes and failures

This is an opportunity to embed success and improve - document everything and set realistic dates for completion of any repairs 

Understand the reasons for the successes so that you can replicate them next time

Understand the reasons for the failures so that you can eradicate them next time



Remember that only JFDIs look for innocent scapegoats.



Take this opportunity to review the series of talks - remember to listen again when you start your next project!



Please click on the link below to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:



Episode 13 - Review



This talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.



I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.



There will be a new series of talks, on a different topic, in a few months. I hope that you have enjoyed these talks.



This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.



Lifestyles is the theme music and is licensed from AKM Music.



© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

Your Big Project - Series 1 Episode 12 - Implementation / Go-Live

Welcome to Implementation / Go-Live, talk twelve in the series 'Your Big Project'. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We always consider the good, the bad and the extremely ugly!



Implementation / Go-Live is where your work becomes reality. If you have skipped steps or haven't done things thoroughly enough you will have a disaster. This lack of commitment to deliver a successful solution can kill your successful business.

It is unlikely that everything will be perfect:



There may be minor flaws - correct them before customers notice

Minor flaws, corrected, will not kill your business

If you can transact normally and accurately with customers you should be OK

If it is a disaster, you cannot sort out the mess after go-live - you will need to stop and go back and try implementation again later 



Remember the JFDIs, wanting an implementation bonus, will push you to go before you're ready. They'll make light of the issues - don't listen to them as their attitude creates disasters that destroy years of building  successful businesses - in days.



If you have followed the steps I have laid out, checked all the data rigorously, trained people properly and tested thoroughly there is a chance that it might work!



Please click on the link below to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:



Presentation 12 - Implement (Go Live)



This talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.



I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.



This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.



Join me in two weeks for episode thirteen, the final episode of this series of Talking Business - Your Big Project.



Lifestyles is the theme music and is licensed from AKM Music.



© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

Your Big Project - Series 1 Episode 11 - Testing

Welcome to Testing, talk eleven in the series 'Your Big Project'. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We always consider the good, the bad and the extremely ugly!



Testing, properly carried out, is essential if your project is to have any chance of success. Far too often people skimp on testing as by the time it comes around the project is behind schedule. This has disastrous results. Skimping on testing can kill your successful business.

Problems include:



A belief that testing is a task for others

Testing is an IT exercise - it isn't

The JFDIs are impatient and want their implementation bonus

We can sort out the mess after go-live



Anyone who believes in any of the above is not fit to be in the business. Such attitudes create disasters that the destroy years of building successful companies - in days.



Testing shows how well your training is working. It may highlight changes that you need to make.



Testing must be thorough, complete and everything must work properly before you sign off.



Please click on the link below to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:



Click here to access presentation 11 - Testing



The talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.



I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.



This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.



Join me in two weeks for episode twelve of Talking Business - Your Big Project.



Lifestyles is the theme music and is licensed from AKM Music.



© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

Your Big Project - Series 1 Episode 10 - Training

Welcome to Training, talk Ten in the series 'Your Big Project'. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We always consider the good, the bad and the extremely ugly!



You need to have excellent training if your project is to have any chance of success. Far too often people skimp on training with disastrous results. Skimping on training can kill a successful business.

Problems include:



Boring training material - people are turned off

Material does not explain the Why properly - this results in no buy in

People don't understand the importance of 'Best Practice'

Training is not seen as a critical activity - even seen as optional



You need to ensure that everyone involved in the project can deliver the  material effectively. This includes you! If you can't use the system properly you'll have no 'street cred'.



Lots of practical work is essential to show future users the look and feel of the system - it is essential that they can use it. Test people's ability to use the system. Fail those who don't pass the tests. Failures must not use the system.



Please click on the link to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:



Click on the link to view presentation 10 - Training



The talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.



I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.



This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.



Join me in two weeks for episode ten of Talking Business - Your Big Project.



Lifestyles is the theme music and is licensed from AKM Music.



© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

Your Big Project - Series 1 Episode 9 - Build

Welcome to Build, talk nine in the series 'Your Big Project'. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We always consider the good, the bad and the extremely ugly!



Many of you in the business may think that this is where IT takes over. This is incorrect! The IT team may take the lead for the build phase but you have to play a major role. If you don't the project will have difficulties and might fail.



IT may write the programs but……

There may be questions so you (the business) must provide the required clarification.

You must ask questions because you must ensure that you understand what is being built!

Ask questions in order to ensure that the programs fulfill the agreed requirements



Involve yourself in every stage of testing because that is how you'll learn how to use the system. You can then use that knowledge to create training material.



Arrange demonstrations to show future users the look and feel of the system when sections have been developed and tested because this increases 'buy in'.



Please click on the link to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:



Presentation for Episode 9 - Build



The talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.



I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.



This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.



Join me in two weeks for episode ten of Talking Business - Your Big Project.



The theme music Lifestyles used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.



© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

Your Big Project - Series 1 Episode 8 - Data

Welcome to data, talk eight in the series 'Your Big Project'. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We always consider the good, the bad and the extremely ugly!



I talk about the need to take every opportunity to improve data quality. The improvement work should have started as part of the Best Practice programme. Improving quality at that stage means you will have a sound basis for your system!



Bad data:



Reduces the value of your organisation in the eyes of its customers

Disheartens your team

Is environmentally incorrect - think of the wasted mail shots!

Kills projects - dead

In some cases you may end up in court - think GDPR.



I talk about the importance of understanding data fields and improvement benefits.



Click here for the presentation on Data



The talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.



I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.



Please click on the link to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:



This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.



Join me in two weeks for episode eight of Talking Business - Your Big Project.



The theme music Lifestyles used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.



© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019