Have you ever wondered why technology projects for mortgage companies often fail? With technology at our fingertips today, it’s becoming more important than ever before to evolve. Why do we seem so slow to adopt new technologies? Uneasiness with using technology, especially when implementation may disrupt daily processes, seems to be the most likely culprit. Here’s an excerpt from our white paper, Why Technology is so Difficult, on how to master and apply technology successfully.
“Principle #5 - It's NOT an IT project.
A by-product of past frustrations, many executives default to IT on every project – leaving IT to define and discover the effectiveness of technology either built or bought. This results in an impossible circumstance for the leader of IT, as thesis deference and deflection of business definitions leave them to interpret and assume, rarely resulting in success. Many IT leaders have succumbed to dismissal simply because they are perceived to have not performed, when in reality they never have a chance to succeed from the beginning.
This approach also makes it impossible for a business to innovate, as the challenge of vision and betterment falls victim to deference to IT leaders. The result is clearly missed opportunities and chances for business to gain and sustain competitive advantage.
Even when a business has the highest performing IT leader with the best of knowledge of the business, conflict and misunderstanding will result in perceived failure. The business simply cannot defer the definition of vision, detail, objectives, or expectations. The lack of definition of a process would be equivalent to no blueprints while building a house. The end result is not getting what you thought you were getting and poor construction of the end product.
Do not defer to IT. Instead, create a team that equally represents the different areas of your organization and allow them to lead the project to ensure business objectives are being met. The role of IT is to ensure technology is operational. It’s the organization’s responsibility to ensure the technology is functional. Technology should be an enabler for positive change within the business. Stay focused on the business objectives you want to achieve, such as a percentage reduction in labor, time, or an improvement in customer service.”
This approach also makes it impossible for a business to innovate, as the challenge of vision and betterment falls victim to deference to IT leaders. The result is clearly missed opportunities and chances for business to gain and sustain competitive advantage.
Even when a business has the highest performing IT leader with the best of knowledge of the business, conflict and misunderstanding will result in perceived failure. The business simply cannot defer the definition of vision, detail, objectives, or expectations. The lack of definition of a process would be equivalent to no blueprints while building a house. The end result is not getting what you thought you were getting and poor construction of the end product.
Do not defer to IT. Instead, create a team that equally represents the different areas of your organization and allow them to lead the project to ensure business objectives are being met. The role of IT is to ensure technology is operational. It’s the organization’s responsibility to ensure the technology is functional. Technology should be an enabler for positive change within the business. Stay focused on the business objectives you want to achieve, such as a percentage reduction in labor, time, or an improvement in customer service.”
This Principle couldn’t be more accurate. IT does not drive strategy, nor should it. Pushing total responsibility for an implementation project to the IT department without clear direction on business objectives not only leaves them confused, but it also dooms the project for failure because you’ve taken executive drive for the project out of the equation. See your project through both the planning and implementation phases to ensure that the project meets its intended objectives. Don’t let your competitors pass you by because your business can’t find a way to adopt technology.
To learn more about all 10 Principles, download our white paper, Why Technology is so Difficult, here.
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