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    • Action plan

    Preparing for a new investment in technology

    Medium effort

    Medium impact

    Once you have made a decision on using a new technology, the next step is to plan how it will be implemented. Looking at the impact on processes and user needs, including preparing an effective training plan, are critical to making your investment pay off.

    • We’ve designed our action plans to be completed in the order of steps laid out and explained why each step is important
    • Customising your action plan lets you set your own completion dates, assign tasks to others and get notifications
    • Helpful tools are provided for certain steps while a tracking metric at the end will help you determine the long-term success of your effort
    • A downloadable PDF version of each action plan is available if you’d like to compete it offline
    What's involved? Ways to use this action plan Measuring impact
    1

    Sense check whether the tool you’re investing in meets users’ requirements and tackles the root cause of any problem it’s supposed to solve

    Impact: high

    Why will this help?

    Starting with goals and needs helps frame the implementation process. Looking back through the process that led you or your team to pick the tool gives you the grounding for making the investment.

    Making an informed decision when choosing new technology

    Researching new technology can be a minefield – here’s how to make an informed decision on what’s right for your business.

    Getting to the root cause of a problem

    If you’ve identified a problem in your business, it’s important to get to the root cause before you take action.
    2

    Look at the process the technology will impact and consider any knock-on effects – both positive and negative – of bringing it into the business

    Impact: medium

    Why will this help?

    There may be resource implications of implementing the new technology. This includes employees’ workloads, so it’s important to make sure you’re prepared.

    Do your research before investing in new tech

    Ahead of any expensive and long-term investment, it’s vital for business leaders to research potential products and suppliers. Investing in new technology is no exception.

    Develop a process for identifying the right tech for your business

    Investing in new technology is a big decision. To get it right, leaders must develop a process to ensure that any outlay benefits the business.
    3

    Work out the cost of the proposed technology, including the outlay the business must make and the time saved

    Impact: medium

    Why will this help?

    Calculating the costs of the tool allows you to forecast effectively. Balance this with the time saving – making processes more efficient allows employees to do more, even if it doesn’t show up on your profit and loss statement immediately

    Completing a cost analysis for new technology

    Before purchasing new technology, leaders need to understand the costs involved and what other support or resources are needed.
    4

    Develop a training plan to make sure employees can use new technology effectively

    Impact: high

    Why will this help?

    For processes to work effectively, you need employee buy-in and for them to be able to use new tools effectively. Failing to train the team may lead them to ignore or misuse new tools, making the investment ineffective.

    Overcoming employee barriers to tech adoption

    Employee buy-in plays a decisive factor in making new technology a success. Work through our template to anticipate any potential barriers to adoption.

    An introduction to developing workforce skillsets

    Many managers equate skills gaps with the need to hire, but there are better ways to go about developing skillsets in your organisation.
    5

    Once you feel prepared for a new technology investment, move forward and implement the technology

    Impact: high

    Why will this help?

    Once you’ve got all your ducks in a row, it’s time to make the investment and start reaping the benefits.

    An introduction to budgeting and planning for new technology investments

    In business, the success of any new technology lies in the planning and rollout. Read this guide to find out how to make your new tech a success.

    What can I do with this Action Plan?

    Start this Action Plan

    Add some extra information to this plan and we’ll help you get it done.

    • We’ve designed our action plans to be completed in the order of steps laid out and explained why each step is important
    • Customising your action plan lets you set your own completion dates, assign tasks to others and get notifications
    • Helpful tools are provided for certain steps while a tracking metric at the end will help you determine the long-term success of your effort
    • A downloadable PDF version of each action plan is available if you’d like to compete it offline

    Download and print

    Get a printable template for this Action Plan, fill it in with some target dates, and share it with your team. Pin it on the wall where everyone can see it.

    Get the printable Action Plan

    Learning Groups

    We also run Learning Groups on these topics where you can join other leaders tackling the same challenges.

    Find a Learning Group

    How will I know if my action plan is working?

    Staff satisfaction survey results

    Staff satisfaction surveys help gauge sentiment at regular intervals

    Why this metric?

    Whether gathered anonymously or not, staff satisfaction surveys help gauge the sentiment of your people as changes are made and impacts felt.

    How do I start tracking?

    Use an online survey to get feedback from members of staff three and six months after making changes to see what impact it has had.