If your organization is planning a large Kronos project, one of the biggest decisions you will make is who you will work with to complete the project. Choosing to work with an outside Kronos consultant can be a very advantageous decision for three main reasons:
-Experience: Outside Kronos Consultants have almost seen it all. With more experience, outside consultants can often find unique solutions that others may not discover.
-Unlimited Bandwidth: Bringing in consultants frees up your employees and IT staff to spend time on more important initiatives.
-Neutral Opinion: During a WFM project, the IT department and the executive team need to be on the same page in order for proper communication to surround the project. A Kronos Consultant can serve as an unbiased mediator between departments.
Once the decision is reached to work with an outside consultant, the task becomes choosing a specific Service Partner. There are a few key considerations to take into account:
Complexity is inherent in any enterprise Kronos implementation. Failing to fully account and plan for all variables in the total Kronos equation guarantees an over budget and under-delivered project. Failing to plan for the inherent complexity in an IT project results in:
Incomplete Planning
Disjointed Execution
An end product that is a support nightmare, negating any planned ROI
When choosing a Service Partner, it is important to understand the complexity of your project so that you can choose the partner with the capabilities and experience that best fit those complexities.
Before you can define your destination, you need to know your starting point. No matter the type of implementation, the first component that MUST be considered is the process. Implementations, upgrades, and even just the everyday use of software successfully can be challenging. Each of these functions must be paired with a comprehensive planning process in order to produce the best results. An experienced Service Partner will take the time to fully understand the culture, requirements, and process of your unique organization, so he/she can understand what pain points must be addressed in order to achieve peace of mind.
Change Management is the process of developing a strategic approach of how to best implement change into an organization. It looks at every aspect of organizational change, including culture, finances, and the technical impact. Instead of focusing solely on the project itself, change management looks at the organization as a puzzle and tries to understand how the new pieces will best fit in with what already exists. The objective is to maximize benefits for all stakeholders and minimize overall risk. Change Management is mostly used in reference to human aspects of change, meaning it is closely tied to industrial psychology. Beyond Change Management, a comprehensive Training plan is a crucial part of creating high levels of user adoption. When selecting a Service Partner, it is important to understand their view and approach for Kronos Training.
Bringing a consultant into your organization is comparable to inviting a stranger into your home: there needs to be an element of trust between you in order for every party to feel comfortable.The wrong consultant at the right time is still the wrong consultant. Vice versa, the right consultant at the wrong time is still the wrong consultant. It is crucial to match the service partner with your organization’s needs. Deciding whom to work with can be an arduous process, but it is necessary to ensure good chemistry between your organization and the consultant you choose.
If you are dealing with a complex implementation or upgrade, do not try to fill the gap in your project team with a quick fix consultant. Make room in your budget to hire a partner who really and truly knows what they are doing. Hiring a cheap, quick fix consultant is detrimental to the progress of your project and often costs organization’s more in the long run because of replacements and project re-dos.
Looking for a Kronos Service Partner? We could be the right choice for your organization. Contact us today to learn more about our unique approach to WFM projects.