There is an old saying, ‘You get what you inspect, not what you expect’, which rings true with any project or initiative.
Whether you are purchasing a piece of equipment, deploying software solutions, implementing process changes, or a complex system, the desired outcome relies greatly on the governing documentation and the ability to enforce and confirm the deliverables. Governing documentation can range from a flow chart, purchase order, or detailed contract(s). Since these documents are the basis from which the solution will be produced you should ensure the descriptions and deliverables have commensurate details which allow you to clearly define the expectations (level of quality, timing, performance, costs, etc). It’s important to align your level of effort with the complexity of the solutions and the corresponding costs. Having an overly burdensome description for a simple solution is just as bad as having too simple a contract for a high value / complex system.
The primary and key objective for all this effort is to make sure you have defined the measurements – and most importantly – how the results will be measured. How measurements are performed and the methods should be scrutinized to make sure they are appropriate and possible. Measurement and validation will determine whether you get what you expect.
At Radix we use our years of experience to help define, build, manage, and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Of those activities, the define phase determines the basis from which all things will be determined. We are happy to help you on any of these challenges with your next initiative!