In the 1980s when I was in college, an article came out in one of the leading journals describing technology projects as a process of "unfreezing," "change," and "refreezing." I've found this image useful for what DGG does. In most businesses, there is at least some element of resistance to change. Often, I see businesses that delay needed Information Technology changes until the last minute, then expect them to proceed without a hitch.
Reality intervenes in these cases.
I've written somewhere else that 10 years ago software was behind business. If we got a 75-85% fit for needs with off-the-shelf software, we were doing pretty well. Now, with the advances in hardware that make extensive software optimization unnecessary, and the advances in software development tools and techniques that allow quick development of complex software, it's possible to quickly add features to software. So software--in many cases--is ahead of the business...it does things the average business doesn't need to do today.
And therein lies the opportunity and the danger.
The opportunity to become much more efficient by applying best practices to the operation of business. And the danger that the change will be too difficult to absorb.
Make sure your business is thawing before you begin a software project...it will go a long way toward ensuring the project's success.
