System Implementation

Moving from concepts to action is not just motivation, but implementation. Just because your organization has a process does not mean that the procedure is fully operational or highly efficient. Putting plans into action requires collaboration, focus and determination.

Slaughter Development works with businesses and non-profits to initiate, maintain and measure core organizational processes through our System Implementation program. We help you to transform the best laid plans into standard operating procedure—today and for the life of your business plan.

Building Consensus

There is a secret to successful business process implementation: enthusiastic support among everyone impacted. You can’t force anyone to work in a certain way, but you also cannot stop those who believe passionately in a way of working. Organizations are composed of individuals, so for the larger group to experience substantial change everyone within must embrace new ideas and perspectives. Consensus is the groundswell that powers implementation.

When everyone supports a plan, growth and change occur organically rather than by edict. The best source of new approaches to workflow is Business Process Modeling, as this gives stakeholders the confidence that sound engineering work has been performed to assess their needs. Proposals which arise from personal interviews, direct investigation and group collaboration have an incredible momentum driven by the enthusiasm of those participants. Rather than one party taking the lead and receiving both credit and blame, everyone owns the transformation and therefore everyone expects to be part of the struggle and growth. Shared ownership encourages individual commitment and creativity, which are the greatest contributions anyone can provide to an organization.

The Soft Launch

Rolling out a new business process isn’t like firing a rocket or throwing a surprise party. In those projects, instantaneous change is the primary marker of success. For business process system implementation, a massive single-day switchover usually flounders and fails. In her book, “You don’t change a company by memo,” Dr. Marti Smye explains that the model for organizational transformation consists of five steps. The first three of these components build up to executing the change. Launching a new or changed business process requires both time and energy, and failure to accept this requirement will threaten the success of the project.

Instead of an overnight unveiling, think of progress in system implementation like a spreading rumor or a fashion trend. To those outside, the idea seems quirky and improbable, yet it continues to embolden and grow, until suddenly it has overtaken the ecosystem of the organization. This change is more about culture and people than it is about technology and tools. Growth is gradual, steady and almost plodding, but unstoppable. Forward motion, patience and momentum combine to ensure system implementation succeeds.

Forming the Habit

Anyone trying to change their routine knows that making or breaking habits require a long period of repetition. Smye calls this final stage embedding—not hours or days, but weeks or months of time spent practicing, reviewing and refining new procedures. Slaughter Development helps to ensure that the new change is more than just a great beginning, but a new way of corporate life. Our team maintains contact in the weeks and months following by conducting analysis, independent coaching, follow-up meetings and calls, surveys and measurements. Throughout this entire period you retain logins to our client access portal, ensuring the information and resources you need are available 24×7.

From Success to Case Study

Victory in system implementation does not occur when you are running on your own. Like learning to ride a bike, taking off the training wheels is a milestone, but far from the pinnacle of success. Slaughter Development follows up with your group at three, six, twelve and eighteen months to build data for a comprehensive case study. This report helps you understand the unique strengths and weaknesses of your operation throughout the system implementation process. It is a record of your trials and triumphs, and a road map for your next methodology engineering project.

Costs and Timeframe

System Implementation requires an initial commitment of 120 days and an agreement for at least six months of follow up. Although every opportunity is distinct, typical schedules and prices are shown in the grid below. For more information, see our packages page or contact us.

Surprised to see numbers quoted online? Learn more about our pricing philosophy.