Make It Real

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy
or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy


Rappers & musicians often spend time trying to keep it real. We all should, because before long we will be found out. When that happens, nobody feels good.

In terms of keeping it real, I am very keen in procurements we always see that too. What is sold, should be what is experienced. Why would we want anything else? Of course, consultants who just do procurements, would not see that at the sharp end of getting these things in & working.

I had a conversation recently with a good mate of mine, who has just bought a new BMW. His beef was that pretty much everyone wants metallic paint and it will always be a £650+ bolt on to the eventual cost. Spookily enough as will be ‘head up’ displays and lots of other bolt-ons.

I said, “You are lucky Mike, if you were procuring software, and that was a car, I regularly get offered models at great prices, but with only 3 wheels. We all know we need at least 4 wheels to have anything drivable, but that will be some additional hidden cost, further down the line. Just a spot of change control, we will all have to swallow. Of course, at the sale, the commercial chaps will argue until they are blue in the face, that you will be quite sound on just three wheels.

Of course we remember only one three wheeler, that one from ‘Only Fools & Horses’. Are our Social Housing suppliers touting the 21st century implementation equivalent of the Reliant Robin, in some cases?

It kind of feels like that to me when any supplier suggests that two test data conversions and a go-live one is all you will ever need, and by inference, that only has been costed in. Don’t get me wrong, but my six years plus, implementing various sites and working on that practical side recently, as well as procuring solutions, has taught me otherwise. Maybe these sales people are uninformed, deluded, mistaken or just dishonest?

Clearly, many suppliers work very differently in that respect, particularly where its necessary to keep customers, that need to go from their own legacy system to their new one. At my old shop, many years ago, it was possible to migrate a whole system in just ten days. We did it once, for over 30,000 units. If a well planned process had been engineered well enough, it would be fast, accurate and efficient. Also, honed & improved at each customer migration. No end of lessons that can be learned to speed up the process and make it smoother, better. That was my philosophy anyway.

Clearly, not improving data migration processes, in the interests of the customers, leads to dissatisfaction that soon gets around. Rather than regarding the act of staying with your existing supplier, maybe upgrading to a newer, shinier jalopy, as low risk, its actually a driver to look at whatever else might be available. If you are up for it, go where the grass is greener, rather than suffer apathy or complacency with the supplier you know.      

Of course there is more wrong with the differences between sale & implementation than that, more on that blogged about here.

If you are considering self-service, see you in October, at a new special conference

Related Post: Your software suppliers may be more charitable, than you think! 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

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I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

The Scorpions – Make It Real.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.
File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 ,365Agile," """" ",,#UKHousing,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain,#InternetOfTenants, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,AirWatch,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos, Asprey e-state pro,ActiveHousing,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview,Agile365, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning, Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,Civica Genero,Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL, CRS Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Accuserve,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013, DynamicAI, Dynamic AI, ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance, Financial Systems, Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Footprint,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP,Genero,GCloud,G-Cloud,HouSys,Housing software,HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housemark,Housing Portfolio Management System, HRA,housingtITguy,Housing Support Pro,HousingSupportPro,Housing Options,Hometeam, Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company,housing predictive analytics, Impact Response,iPayPro,implementations,iRobot,In House,InHouse,In4,InMotion, InMotion2016, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference,Housing 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software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Oracle,Orchard,Optitime DRS,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH, Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities, Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus, Peoplevalue,Portfolio Management System, PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points,predictive analytics for housing, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, QueryView,Queryview reporting,Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC,RobotAutomation,Rave Technologies (India) PVT Limited, Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, "Social Housing IT",Social Housing ICT, Scottish,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Safron,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint, Simdel,Simdell,SimPro,Sim Pro,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star 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Working from Mario's Café

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy
or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy


I heard an interesting story a few weeks ago, about a senior manager having read in a magazine article about Agile Working. They thought, “Nothing wrong with that” and fancied getting the staff to try it.

The week before leaving for a big chunk of annual leave, somewhere exotic hopefully, they declared, “get yourselves Agile, out of the office, make it happen by the time I return”.

As you might guess, it wasn’t a storming success.

Now, there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with Agile working, but to make it a success, some planning is essential. There’s more to it than just working from the Italian café that does great flat white’s. Also, its good to think when its best to implement too.

Some of the common drivers around this, that I have encountered, include:
•    Introduction of new or emerging technologies. Maybe we can now provide tablets, apps or smartphones to staff, so they can carry out more work, where it actually originates
•    Office re-location or refurbishment imminent
•    Management structure change. New directors, CEO or senior managers, moving to an organisation, might want culture to change, to improve productivity or motivation.
•    Expansions and merger activity

In all of the above, “just get on and do it”, has rarely been practical or effective on its own. It generally needs a mini-project team putting together, consisting of a range of staff. So who should be included? Spookily enough in a project to build a short to medium term digital transformation plan, for a UK housing group, we are currently answering that very question.

Be sure to give this transformation or change management team a useful name, that will help later with joined up communications. ICT & HR need strong representation. The former as they are the engineers to plumb the IT/telephony tech in securely and the latter even more, as working patterns may need to change, even contracts of work if core hours and locations of working may change. HR teams tend to like a move to Agile working, as a modern, flexible work environment, improves prospects of employing interested and high quality staff. 

Operations / facilities will also have a lot to bring to the project, as processes may change, office layouts or the need for one or more offices, may change and they will almost certainly be interested in the costs & benefits of a move to Agile working. Can an office environment be planned and made flexible, sizing to fit the new work habits, created by Agile working.

Comms and marketing should also get involved, to keep staff informed about progress to expectations that have been set. If offices, self-service or the wider digital offering are to be re-branded, think about a consistent approach. Once the tech is in, testing starts internally, have these teams engage with customers. This might be to outline that better self-serve offering, or to spread the good news that service will be transformed, by staff doing more for customers in real time.

Finally, have a sponsor from above. The CEO or a key director, putting their weight & gravitas behind the project is key. They may need to reassure staff as to what can be expected and that the appropriate tech and training will be provided, to ensure when you go Agile, all staff have the right tools to do a better job. Also what new policies will look like, when working away from the office, homeworking and aspects such as health & safety, security of data & GDPR implications.

Lastly, going Agile means more of an emphasis on getting work done, rather than where its done. In the past, it was permissible for managers to expect to see ‘bums on seats’, during core hours. Moving to a more ‘trust-based’ model can be one of the hardest transitions to make. Again, leadership for that is best to come from the very top of the organisation.

If you are considering self-service, see you in October, at a new special conference

Related Post: Ensure you actually allocate a realistic amount of time to your transformation project 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

Saint Etienne - Mario's Café.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.
File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 ,365Agile," """" ",,#UKHousing,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain,#InternetOfTenants, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,AirWatch,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos, Asprey e-state pro,ActiveHousing,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview,Agile365, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning, Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,Civica Genero,Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL, CRS Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Accuserve,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013, DynamicAI, Dynamic AI, ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance, Financial Systems, Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Footprint,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP,Genero,GCloud,G-Cloud,HouSys,Housing software,HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housemark,Housing Portfolio Management System, HRA,housingtITguy,Housing Support Pro,HousingSupportPro,Housing Options,Hometeam, Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company,housing predictive analytics, Impact Response,iPayPro,implementations,iRobot,In House,InHouse,In4,InMotion, InMotion2016, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Management Consultants, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce,Information@Work components, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Information Management Server,IMS, Invu,Ireland,Irish,Inphase , IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, iSupport,iSupportPro, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keypera Hometeam,Keyfax,Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice,MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS,mDesign,mobile functionality,mobile platform,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,MDM,Management,CRM2013,Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities,NPS,NPS Housing,NPS CRM,NPS Job Manager Mobile, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,Natural Forms,Nintexworkflow,NPS ASSIST, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Oracle,Orchard,Optitime DRS,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH, Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities, Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus, Peoplevalue,Portfolio Management System, PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points,predictive analytics for housing, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, QueryView,Queryview reporting,Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC,RobotAutomation,Rave Technologies (India) PVT Limited, Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, "Social Housing IT",Social Housing ICT, Scottish,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Safron,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint, Simdel,Simdell,SimPro,Sim Pro,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment,Symatrix Human Capital Management, TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, SunAccounts, Social Housing Software Applications, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tableau Business Dashboards, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing,Tony Smith That,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT, guy,tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousinguy,tony smith housing guy,sharepoint, share point, SHBVN, Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy, TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, Totalmobile, Total Mobile, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,verse one,verseone,vWork,Version One,Visualmetrics,Valueworks,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley,Works Connect,worksConnect, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App ...