Implementation

Abstract

This covers a period starting with the commitment to procure a particular system. Implementation can be regarded as being over when the performance of the system has been reviewed against the original objectives and been considered satisfactory. Putting it in accountancy terms, implementation is the period of maximum negative cash flow. It will involve heavy expenditure and it will be a time during which the designers will work less efficiently than they did before. Clearly, everything must be done to reduce the ill effects. The more care given to planning the better, and it should be treated in the same way as any other project. Because there will be many who are secretly uneasy or even openly critical the policy should be to get some visible success as early as possible and to develop from that position.