New Business software: Are you in the show or a spectator?

I recently read an article that talked about the differences between a spectator, the star and the people creating the scenery, the lighting etc., relating this to other activities.

I think it can also relate to installing software for your business.

In many cases, business owners look at their job as funding the activity, making the decision and getting out of the way. Their perception is that they are not technicians, and all anybody wants to talk about is technology. Since they don't understand what's being discussed, they back away from the project. Many of the business staff also back away leaving it to the technicians (either the supplier or the more technically oriented staff).

As owner or manager, you don't want to become a technician. If you do, you won't do the important jobs.

There is a much bigger role for the owner/manager, much bigger than any technican provide. Would you let the lighting specialist define the return on investment? Would you let the set builder decide on who the actors would be. Would you let them define how much to spend? No. You are the Producer and Director. You decide why you are doing it, how much to spend and what kind of a return that you want. You also do everything in your power to ensure that you get that return.

So what does that mean?

• You define your business goal. You visualize how the goal will be met.
• You ensure that your best people are involved, and they look at how the business activities need to be changed (doesn't an actor provide an interpretation?).
• You keep the goal up front so that everybody understands what success means.

These are the most important activities in your project. They can't be left to an electrician, a stage hand or even an actor. None of those responsibilities are technical. yet they are the keys to success of your software installation.