Insight / The journal | 110s — Page 8

Practical ideas for software, websites, mobile apps and the work they make possible. Find a clearer way forward.

Check whether the process needs changing first

Distinguish a tool limitation from an unclear process so a custom build does not automate avoidable confusion.

Include practice, workflow changes and staff responsibilities in the project instead of treating training as an afterthought.

Maintain a small current source of truth that connects business needs, examples and delivery decisions.

Understand how much a proposed solution changes an existing product and what that means for future decisions.

Separate repeatable rules from contextual decisions so automation helps staff without hiding responsibility.

Map the information exchanged between tools, its ownership and timing before treating a connection as a simple feature.

Choose useful reports by defining the decision, audience, data meaning and follow-up action before selecting charts.

Choose portal features based on what customers need to accomplish and what your team can reliably support behind the scenes.

Show actions, decisions, waiting and handovers so the proposed software supports the complete business process.

Normalise assumptions, deliverables and responsibilities before judging which supplier proposal best fits your project.

Give one person clear responsibility for business decisions while keeping frontline knowledge involved in the project.

Give staff a practical way to verify that delivered software supports agreed work before accepting a release.