Changing the tires on a moving car
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at 04:30AM 29. Philosophy on implementing large technology systems: I'd rather be optimistic than right
Pardon my French, but implementing, changing or even upgrading any complex technology system is a son of a bitch. I have seen people who are strong, happy and resilient reduced to tears during such processes.
Keep the following in mind.
- The system will eventually work.
- There’s an important purpose for the change.
- People will not want to go back to the previous system after they have had a chance to get familiar with the new system.
- No amount of training will ever be enough for some people.
- It’s not just you - businesses, universities, and technology centers experience problems as well.
I try to remind my boss that a large technology implementation should never evaluated until it has been in place for at least a year.
Keep the faith. Be optimistic.
from Machines Are the Easy Part, People Are the Hard Part (free download!)
Yippee. For the third time in my technology director career, I have the honor of managing a change of student information systems. (See DIPS and home access, 10-28-2007)
For those readers who may not work in schools, the student information system (SIS) is that complex database that does a few minor things like keep track of student grades, attendance, discipline incidents, course histories, medical records, and schedules. It is used as the data source for other databases that involve transportation and food service and assessments and learning management systems and adaptive learning programs and HR and finance and payroll and special education programs and library systems and a whole raft of other things that require usernames. Teachers, administrators, secretaries, librarians, and increasingly students and parents all use it on a daily basis. The data it holds need to be clean and accurate and up-to-date in order to use that data to file reports to the state which results in funding coming back to the district.
The SIS is a very, very big deal.
We don't have a choice in changing SISs since our current SIS will no longer be supported in two years. And since next year will be an even busier, potentially more chaotic year due to some grade realignments and other big changes, we are going bite the bullet and do a mid-year transition. This year. Were I writing the bullet points in the opening quote today I would add
- There is never a good time to implement a large technology system - only less bad times.
While this process will be like the proverbial "changing tires on a moving car" I believe it will be less traumatic than many will anticipate. The new system will be instantly better. We have good support from our current SIS provider. Data will transfer. We have good staff in place. The need for adequate PD at all levels is a given among stakeholders. And just last year we changed email systems mid-year and lived to tell the tale. We have confidence.
This is probably a good thing we are making this change. Some of us were getting a little bored.
Reader Comments (4)
Doug,
Good luck on the SIS implementation. In 40+ years I have avoided doing one. I've been on the receiving end of several good and bad ones. I don't envy you in the least. I'll pray for your success and sanity.
Thanks for the book. It fit in well with my edtech course.
Hi Ron,
Let me in on your secret!
Doug
We did a mid year transition when we moved to infinite campus several years ago. There are any benefits to this including secretaries and staff are on site to do review imports/info when you start loading info/data into the new system. Good luck!
Thanks, Jen, good to know. I did the mid-year switch to Gmail at two schools, so I know the advantages. It's just that the SIS is sooooo big!
Hope to touch base with you at MASA, I hope.
Doug