{"id":3000,"date":"2012-08-06T16:45:50","date_gmt":"2012-08-06T16:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.journeytothecloud.com\/?p=2092"},"modified":"2012-08-06T16:45:50","modified_gmt":"2012-08-06T16:45:50","slug":"leading-a-horse-to-water-driving-out-uncertainty-in-it-cloud-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/icloud.pe\/blog\/leading-a-horse-to-water-driving-out-uncertainty-in-it-cloud-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading a Horse to Water, Driving Out Uncertainty in IT Cloud Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhat Cloud solution is right for us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat functionality will be available in this solution?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen will I get my training?\u201d
\n<\/span>
\nEach of these questions reflects a person grappling with uncertainty at different levels of the organization.\u00a0 From the initial consideration of changing IT strategy, through the design, implementation, and go live, the project team is constantly working on uncertainty loops as uncertainty cascades down the organization.\u00a0 The senior decision maker starts with uncertainty and has zero commitment, until they commit to a strategy, then the IT manager deals with uncertainty of how to implement the strategy.\u00a0 The IT manager instinctively gathers information to fill in the blanks and then sets to work making commitments to specific design components.\u00a0 As the final design gets closer to testing and rollout, end users have their own set of concerns and questions and eventually will be fully committed to the solution once they\u2019ve had training and cut over to the new solution.\u00a0 In each case, the person is expected to make a commitment but won\u2019t feel comfortable making a choice until much of the uncertainty is driven out, thereby reducing the risk of the decision.\u00a0 People take action to reduce uncertainty instinctively, and as long as they feel uncertain they won\u2019t be comfortable to make a decision.\u00a0 Understanding this, and helping drive out uncertainty to encourage commitment can make a difference between analysis paralysis and steady progress toward the goal.\u00a0 Providing answers to reduce uncertainty can \u201clead the horse to water\u201d trying to get them to decide.<\/p>\n

At GreenPages, we\u2019ve done numerous assessments to create recommendations for companies on what cloud solutions are good for them. It\u2019s a tough decision for the CIO, and a big leap of faith for the company, especially putting your IT organization\u2019s success in the hands of an external Cloud Provider.\u00a0 We research the providers, check references, compare them to industry benchmarks, but it is still a tough decision.<\/p>\n

When we meet with IT Managers in the process of implementing Cloud<\/a> solutions, they grapple with how to fit the standardized cloud services into their organization.\u00a0 One company had a complex Active Directory environment, and although a particular tool claimed to integrate with AD, it had very limited functionality, only allowing a single OU selection, and this customer is still working through how to get the tool to fit their organization.\u00a0 IT Managers know these things can happen and are skeptical until they see a solution first hand, and experience it for themselves.<\/p>\n

When users hear about the changes coming, they have their own questions.\u00a0 This is the time when people wonder if their cheese is about to move.\u00a0 People want to know how their job will change with the new tools or strategy. \u00a0These concerns can pop up unexpectedly if not addressed.<\/p>\n

Knowing that people are extra sensitive to uncertainty, the resourceful IT professional can get out in front of people\u2019s most anxiety producing concerns and help to drive out uncertainty:<\/p>\n