Training for change

Change management for new system implementations is still poorly understood. So much so that 35% of IT directors say it’s the principal cause of problems. That’s the main finding of a survey of 100 UK IT directors last month. They blame poor practice for ongoing problems firms tend to face, particularly when installing ERP systems. Indeed, 100% of the manufacturing IT directors surveyed say change management and training are key to roll-out success – although 4% do not provide it! Beyond that, 57% of respondents in manufacturing see an integrated support platform as important – higher than any other sector surveyed. Kevin Riley, CEO of traiing software provider OnDemand Software, says: “This reflects a mystery surrounding change management or put another way, people and process. Most IT directors realise that they need to do more for employees in the roll-out phases, but still have differing views on how the issue of change management affects their particular business. “This end-user confusion and training avoidance demonstrates that managing change for employees is something that is still not fully understood.”