The often forgotten ingredient of successful I.T. projects

IT teams are under pressure to deliver technology solutions that seamlessly support the business in achieving its goals. Technology implementation projects are assessed on their ability to drive business value, deliver a return on investment and ensure end-user engagement, technology uptake and – ultimately – their satisfaction. Discover the 4 key ways successful IT project teams build a personal connection…

Delivering a great project that performs well on all of this criteria is no simple task. It is a fine balance to navigate between innovation and operational excellence, effectively engage the varied stakeholders and manage change. And the fact is that some projects are just more successful than others.

At Nexon we have the pleasure to partner with some exceptional IT teams to help them deliver successful IT implementation projects. And in our experience, there is a theme that differentiates a great IT project from an average one. The great projects (and the great teams) have one thing in common – strong working relationships that are based on real personal connections.

Below are some insights from the teams that do a great job at managing the less tangible aspects of an IT implementation project. Whether you are an IT service provider or part of an in-house IT team serving internal customers, these may serve as a useful reminder to the simple – but easily forgotten – ways to help ensure a project’s success.

4 key ways successful IT project teams build a personal connection

Successful IT project teams know that most often, it is not the technology that is the differentiator; it is the way that it is delivered and how the various teams come together, communicate and collaborate.

These team recognise that – as is the case with most things – people want to deal with people they like, respect and understand. As such they place a great importance of ensuring that they:

1. Get to know the person

Your customers – whether internal or external – are driven by their unique needs, goals and fears. They may list flexibility, efficiency or cost savings as their high level business objectives but how they define this may differ from person to person.

Successful teams recognise that different stakeholders – even in the same business – will approach the project from their individual frame of reference. As such, they consider success at an individual level. How will this person’s life be different? How will they look in front of the business?

2. Establish trust

Trust helps people to work better together. It enables them to focus on what they do best, spend less time following up and helps them to be more engaged in a project or task.

Successful project team members commit to setting realistic expectations and doing what they say they will do. They act with the high level project objectives in mind and they are honest and transparent in their communication.

3. Take ownership

It is very rare for a project to be completed with no problems arising. A successful project is not one without any issues but rather one where the issues are managed quickly and seamlessly.

Successful project team members present a unified front in front of their customers and take ownership of issues when they arise – even if it means they have to coordinate others behind the scenes.

4. Commit to great communication

Great communication is essential to building a personal connection. It is the key to understanding and delivering on stakeholder expectations and the foundation for building trust and ensuring everyone is engaged with the big picture.

Successful project teams take the time to understand who they need to communicate with, how these stakeholders best process information and how often they would like or need to receive it. They define a communication plan and they stick to it.

The success of any project depends on how well teams and individuals work together – and people work well with those they like, respect and understand. IT projects are no different.

Great IT project teams know that the technology means nothing if people don’t understand it, engage with it or use it. As such, they focus on building strong working relationships based on real personal connections.

Are you planning your next IT project? We specialise in designing and delivering smart technology solutions to help businesses connect, collaborate and make smarter decisions. Speak to us to see how we can help.