The People Side of Change - A Story of Collaboration & Tech Innovation
Change is never easy, especially in a large organization. When it comes to implementing new technologies, the success of the project often depends on how well the people side of change is managed. This was certainly the case when an IT portfolio manager, a communications manager, a demand manager, a contracts manager, and a software licensing and asset management team all came together to create an enterprise portfolio and successfully deploy Okta Single Sign On and Google G-Suite ahead of the Covid 19 Pandemic.
The challenge was significant. The organization was large, and there were a number of different teams involved in the project, each with their own priorities and ways of working. But by working together, the team was able to overcome these challenges and achieve a successful deployment.
The key to their success was collaboration. The team recognized that they all had different strengths and that they needed to work together to achieve their goals. They held regular meetings to discuss progress, identify roadblocks, and brainstorm solutions. They shared information openly and were willing to listen to each other's perspectives. By working together, they were able to achieve a level of innovation that would not have been possible if they had worked in silos.
Another key factor was effective communication. The team recognized that effective communication was critical to their success. They created a communication plan that identified key stakeholders and outlined how they would be kept informed about the project's progress. They held regular town hall meetings to update everyone on the project's status and to answer any questions. They also established a system for collecting feedback from stakeholders and used that feedback to make adjustments to the project as needed.
The team also recognized that accountability was important. They set clear goals and held each other accountable for meeting those goals. They established a system of performance metrics and implemented regular performance reviews to ensure that everyone was focused on achieving the same outcomes.
Finally, the team recognized that change management was critical to the success of the project. They worked closely with a change management consultant, the Statewide Google Champion, to develop a plan that would help them manage the people side of change. The plan focused on preparing, equipping, and supporting individuals to successfully adopt and adapt to the new technologies. It included training sessions, user guides, and a help desk to ensure that everyone had the support they needed. It also included the support of an outside integration with demonstrated success in migrating users and onboarding them to the Google platform.
In the end, the team's hard work paid off. The Okta Single Sign-On and Google G-Suite deployment was a success, and the organization was better prepared to weather the Covid 19 Pandemic. The team's collaboration, effective communication, accountability, and focus on change management were critical to their success. The story serves as a powerful reminder that when it comes to change, the people side is just as important as the technology itself.
