Getting your team up to speed in your ITaaS transition can seem daunting with all of the major changes that look and feel different from original protocol, but ultimately the process boils down to careful planning and thorough communication. While change always starts at the top, an effective transformation will depend on the enthusiasm of your workforce, and their willingness to embrace new ways of doing things. For a step-by-step guide that will lead you through all of the important steps of this process, check out our whitepaper, Making the Transition to ITaaS. But for starters, the following tips should position your organization for a successful transition to ITaaS.
1. Prioritize communication
The ITaaS transition is less about a tech upgrade and has more to do with the development of your organizational structure, so naturally the key to success lies in a thorough and well-planned dialogue with department leaders and other employees. Explain the benefits of the updated model, not just for the business as a whole but for the internal functioning of the department. Well-planned and well-executed steps for implementation will allow employees to ease into the transition more smoothly.
2. Allow room for mistakes
Since a change this pervasive can seem overwhelming to some employees, it is important to communicate the importance of progress over perfection, and let employees feel like they are starting an exciting new venture. A transition period is just that, a transition, and while this may mean an advantage to you and your organization that creates more space and time for everyone to get used to the change, it will also mean some conflict between new and old processes. A good plan is one that makes room for human error, and can adapt to the specific needs of a team.
3. Customize to your needs
One of the biggest benefits of the ITaaS model from the point of view of the user is an IT service that is more tailored, fitting more comfortably with the needs of their specific role in the organization. However this strength can work both ways, allowing greater flexibility for IT staff as well. In the early stages of planning it is good to build a consensus within your organization to ensure that all IT staff have had a chance to voice their concerns and fully understand the benefits. While all employees will need to learn to adapt to the new changes, allowing room for constructive input is what will make your team strong, trusting and confident.
4. Build a strong marketing team
We’ve mentioned communication is key and that includes updates and announcements to stakeholders across the organization. A successful transition to this model will mean incorporating a whole new set of roles and responsibilities that might initially seem alien to an IT team. Gathering feedback through internal focus groups, streamlining operational efficiency, promoting new IT services through emails, company intranet and internal blogs, and constantly evaluating the effectiveness of the product will all play a role in the new model. Learning how to integrate these responsibilities into core IT processes will be challenging, but is crucial for client satisfaction.
5. Think horizontally
While traditional IT models involve a top-down model of services and management, employees within this new framework will need to learn to work horizontally, across various roles and responsibilities. While certainly posing its own unique challenges, it relies on IT staff to completely understand of the systems, tools, and processes in a department. The advantage of this approach is a team that can respond to challenges more fluidly and it builds rapport among colleagues.
6. Play to your strengths
The success of your transition will depend on the people behind it, and so understanding the human resources at your disposal is critical. When building the new structure into your team, seek out individuals who feel passionately about the change who can serve as key leaders. By building a strong team of project managers you will be able to inspire confidence and enthusiasm within the department as a whole.
The best way to be prepared is to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to achieve success. By having a clear and well thought-out plan, and communicating it to key leaders in your organization, you will be able to command a more effective transition that inspires confidence in your workforce. For a more thorough guide read our whitepaper, Making the Transition to ITaaS, which outlines a ten-step approach that will guide you and your team through the entire process.