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Key considerations for solution selection
Enablon Sustainable Performance Forum 2012by Jill Barson Gilbert, QEP
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Introduction
Companies seeking EHS software have a choice of thousands of applications How do you select a solution?
If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.”
–Yogi Berra
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Topics
EHS software market
Software selection paradox
Systems life cycle
Ten questions to ask before selecting a solution
Fifteen tips to navigate the selection process
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EHS software market
Enterprise EHS (3-5)
Mid-market (10-15)
“Point” solutions (1000s)
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Software selection paradox
The paradox of choice says that the more options available, the harder it is to make a decision
“People select what is the easiest to understand
and evaluate.”–The Software Selection
Paradox
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Systems life cycleIdentify Needs
Identify Needs
DesignDesign
Configure & Build
Configure & Build
Test & DebugTest & Debug
PilotPilot
DocumentDocument
DeployDeploy
Maintain & SupportMaintain
& Support
Software evaluation & selection
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Ten questions to ask before selecting a solution
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1. What are your overall objectives?
Strategy and vision Interim fix or long-term
solution? Start small and grow
system?
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2. How ready is your organization?
Company culture Ability to adopt new
technology Organizational change
management
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Technology Adoption Process
Adapted from Geoffrey Moore
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3. What are your business needs?
EHS business processes to be automated
Desired high-level features and functions
System “blueprint”
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Business process and its importance
“Data management only” misses the mark Brings together people, processes, info Evolves over time Governed by “business rules Can be depicted using a flow chart Clarifies roles, responsibilities, data flow
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4. Will the EHS solution integrate or interface with other systems? Enterprise resource
planning (HR, assets, payroll, maintenance work order)
Document management systems
Process data systems
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5. What is the user community and their specific needs? User types Job roles Global needs Localization issues
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6. What are the organization’s technical (IT) requirements? Hardware infrastructure Security Installation model Software license type Offline data entry Mobile data entry Maintenance and
support
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7. How much customization is needed to achieve project goals? Gaps between needs
and software capabilities
Configuration vs. customization
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8. What is the desired project timing?
External drivers High-priority internal
needs Funding issues Facility turnarounds
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9. What are the resource needs to implement the system?
IdentifyNeeds
Design Configure& Build
Test &Debug
Pilot Document Deploy Maintain& Support
SME IT PM
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10. Do you have a business case, funding and senior executive support? EHS management
information systems projects are large
Evaluate cost savings and cost avoidance
ROI is just one measure of value
Grassroots projects are not successful
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Fifteen tips to navigate the selection process
Process
Business needs
Balanced approach
Objective criteria
Adequate time
Crystal clear RFP
People
Know thyself
Key stakeholders
Executive sponsors
Adequate resources
Know thy vendor
Seek expert help
Technology
Data map
Interrelatiomships
Internal capabilities
IT standards, policies
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Summary and recommendations
The EHS software solutions market offers many choices Answer key questions to gauge your readiness
for software evaluation and selection Adhere to a proven, objective methodology to
get you on the road to success If you lack the expertise to navigate through
the systems life cycle, then seek help
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Resources
Crossing the Chasm (Geoffrey Moore) Inside the Tornado (Geoffrey Moore) The Software Selection Paradox (Gilbert, 2012)
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For further informationJill Barson Gilbert, QEPPresident & CEOLexicon Systems, LLC
+1 281.280.8106lexicon-systems.com