Visitors to the Avanti website may have noticed the addition of our first eBook “How to Implement a Print MIS”. Although it’s not long (20 pages), the book contains some of our most important learning from hundreds of print MIS implementations over the past 30+ years.
Important Lesson #1 - Planning and Preparation vs Implementation
We all love to dive directly into making things happen. It’s exciting. Unfortunately, it’s often counter-productive. Take the time to map out your current workflows, and get your core team thinking about how jobs move through the operation. One of the most important lessons we’ve learned is that time spent on proper preparation saves time rescuing a failed implementation. In this book there is only one chapter on implementation! The other six cover preparation and planning.
Important Lesson #2 – Start Small and Grow
Print MIS systems have many great features. However, they don’t all have to be implemented at once. Implement the minimal, essential features that meet core needs first. If there is an existing MIS, begin by simply matching current functionality with the new system. This approach will kick-start staff learning and get them using the new system and processes as quickly as possible.
Important Lesson #3 – People are the Key to Success
A team with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and deliverables will minimize barriers and delays. Developing a realistic plan, based on your staff’s availability will keep the implementation as smooth as possible.
Idea Flow for ‘How to Implement a Print MIS’
Chapter 1 – Expectations and Scope
- Establish reasonable goals
- Embrace change
- Current Workflow Mapping
Chapter 2 – Objectives
- Identify stakeholders and their expectations
- Define Key Performance Indicators
- Measure current status
Chapter 3 - Support Systems
- Establish a continuous quality improvement process
- Document escalation and communication processes
- Implement a question/answer management system
- Use a separate system to test progress—is this referring to Test v Production DB?
Chapter 4 – Teams, Roles and Authority
- Vendor team
- Your team
- Project Sponsor
- Project Manager
- System Administrator
- Finance/Accounting Representative
- Power User(s)
- Establish clear authority for the project
Chapter 5 – Define the Implementation Strategy
- People
- Answers
- Workflows
- Education and learning
- Business benefits
Chapter 6 – Develop the Implementation Plan
- Business decisions
- Current workflow
- Standard operating procedures
- Templates
- Workflow validation
- Core workflows
- Integration requirements
Chapter 7 – Follow Your Plan
- Accountability
Stay Tuned for eBook #2! – Going-Live!
If you have downloaded our first eBook “How to Implement a Print MIS”, we’ll send you the next eBook in this series via email.
