Software auf vielen Computern zu installieren, ist keine triviale Aufgabe, insbesondere, wenn diese verteilt sind und außerdem noch eine heterogene IT-Landschaft bilden. Nicht selten, scheitern in mittleren und großen Unternehmen wichtige Softwareprojekte an dem komplizierten Rollout von Software.

Planbare Probleme; geeignete Planung und vorsichtige Einführung kann helfen, ein Rollout zum Erfolg zu machen. Hierbei ist einer der größten Erfolgsfaktoren die Möglichkeit der Wiederherstellbarkeit des Status Quo durch adäquate Rollback Planung. Hierbei ist die eingesetzte Technologie von untergeordneter Bedeutung, entscheidend ist, daß mittels geeigneter Fallback Szenarien der Druck seitens der IT abgebaut wird und somit professionelles Handeln zum Erfolg führen kann.

Eine der größter Herausforderungen heutiger Unternehmen bei der Einführung neuer Software ist die rechtzeitige Integration der späteren User. Nicht involvierte User können die Innovation und Produktivität drastisch senken.

Die Gründe für Wiederstände der User sind manigfaltig. Häufig sind User mit den existierenden Systemen erfolgreich und tuen sich schwer neue Lösungen zu adaptieren.

Entsprechend Anil Verma, Professor of Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management at the University of Toronto, this problem applies to the implementation of almost any new computing technology. Every business faces this challenge when implementing new software.

But there are some simple ways to address this. Some experts believe that workers have to see the personal benefit of using new software in order to smooth the adoption process, but Verma says other factors are also at work. After examining these factors, it becomes clear that reluctant users people can be divided into groups. Managers should be aware of learning curve issues that some older workers might face, and realize this may be contributing to poor software adoption rates.

The good news is accuracy levels increase as users become familiar with the software regardless of age. Some workers may not take to new software because of real or perceived user-friendliness factors. Software that is difficult to use and lacks intuitiveness can easily deter users from investing the time needed to properly understand how it works.

When software is not user friendly, people get frustrated and give up or get turned off,” says Verma. If employees don’t see results right away, they may resort to time-tested measures that they understand no matter how inefficient they are. Acquiring solutions that match as closely as possible to the technologies employees tend use at home will help reduce user anxiety.

Verma says other people are simply afraid of technology. They may feel that new technology is beyond them and become apprehensive when faced with the task of learning a new application. Others may worry that new technology will bring advances that infringe on their personal lives, such as having to be available at home or on a weekend as a result of improved communications capabilities.

Five ways to overcome resistance By following five simple guidelines, companies can help set their workers on the right track to successful software adoption.

• Training - By offering them ample training, people will be encouraged to try the new product. Uncertainty about the new application can be addressed in question and answer periods. The initial hesitation some individuals may feel toward the software may be eliminated when the process involved in adopting the software is fully explained ahead of time.

• Explain why - Employees often need to see the value in software before investing the time needed to learn it. By explaining the big picture behind the decision to roll out new software, employees can see why changes are necessary. In particular, emphasize how their jobs will be made easier, or highlight some new features that were previously unavailable to them.

• Provide support -Technical support is necessary to ensure successful adoption. Users need somewhere to turn when they have problems with the new system. New users will always ask lots of questions. By having a party available to take their questions and talk them through new and sometimes foreign processes, the transition phase to the new software is easier.

• Create a social group - Creating a social groups related to the project can engage those people who would otherwise remain on the margins. Grouping users with similar technological skill levels can set technophobes at ease, as they will see their colleagues are encountering the same problems. This eliminates stress associated with catching up to more technologically experienced workers who learn new applications at an advanced level. “People work in groups. If I’m having trouble, but eight of my colleagues are already working with the software, this puts pressure on me to use it,” says Verma.

• Organize study tours - When coordinating a large-scale software rollout, Verma recommends taking your staff on a study tour. By bringing them to another company where the new software is already widely in use, new users can see the software in action and better understand how it can help them. The benefits become clearer and new users see that the goal of the software rollout is attainable.

With the proper environment and lots of encouragement, reluctant software users can be shown the value of adopting new software. In most cases, all they need is a good support system to ease them into the process. Training and technical support, combined with social learning groups will all help make the transition process smoother.