Business Change and Fight or Flight

The AlchemistBusiness Process Re-Engineering, Change Management, Project Management

Have you ever worked on a business change project that provoked very intense or out-of-character reactions in other staff? Someone who was a normally calm, rational, team member may have suddenly become aggressive in meetings, or someone previously quite helpful or vocal would silently retreat to a corner during project discussions. Fundamentally, this team member wasn’t happy with the change and they were …

Is Paper Burying your Business?

The AlchemistBusiness Process Review, Change Management, ERP, Integration Services, Project Management, Technical Services, Vendor Management

Generating paper forms has become one of the most frequent, recurring actions in modern offices. We print everything – emails, reports, invoices, spreadsheet data, letters, customer correspondence – the idea of the printed copy being that we have tangible, physical representation that an action has occurred, or confirmation that a task needs to take place. In many circumstances, a hard …

A Short Guide to Field Service Mobility Success

The AlchemistApplication Services, Business Process Review, Change Management, Project Management, Technical Services

Almost everyone I talk to in the Service Industries is looking for the ideal Field Service Mobility solution for their business. However, when I ask them what that means, their definitions of Field Service Mobility vary greatly. Some see Mobility as the equivalent of a paper service docket on an iPad; others see Mobility as the ability to capture photo …

The Negotiation of Change

The AlchemistBusiness Process Review, Change Management, Project Management

I was talking to a Business Manager recently about the change aspects of his IT project. We discussed the issues he might have around translation of existing business processes into the new IT system, as well as the cultural impact those changes might bring. I gave him some suggestions regarding methods of managing the change in the business and he …

Project Kick Starters for the New Year

The AlchemistBusiness Process Review, Change Management, Project Management

We all like the idea of starting the New Year with a clean slate, with all our old problems or projects solved or resolved. Unfortunately, life in a business isn’t always that simple. More often than not, you had a project underway but it was derailed somewhere at the beginning of December and ended up in “Christmas limbo”. So now …

It’s Never Too Late to Start the Process of Change

The AlchemistBusiness Process Review, Change Management, Project Management

We’re getting close to the end of the year! Sometimes that can be a frustrating time for a business, when you know you still have so much you want to achieve but you can’t find the time. It can also be disheartening if you’ve spent the year trying to get project going, but not been able to make any progress. …

Are you being an ostrich about your business processes and IT systems?

The AlchemistBusiness Process Review, Change Management, ERP

Process challenges and changes are a part of daily business life. They’re either a common part of the juggling act within a business, or a catastrophic event that has the potential to shake a business to the core. Either way, they don’t go away on their own. When these process challenges are associated with technology, there’s often a particular reluctance …

Why You’re Never Too Small for IT Project Management

The AlchemistChange Management, Project Management

If you’re the owner/operator of or a manager in a Small to Mid-sized business, chances are you’ve come across the concept of IT project management and dismissed it as a waste of time and money. After all, you know you have good staff in your business who are keen to get involved in your IT project, so that should be …

Three Easy Tips to Encourage People Change in Business

The AlchemistBusiness Process Review, Change Management, Project Management

Have you ever wished you had a magic wand to deal with difficult people at work? It’s not that they are annoying on a daily basis, but more that when it’s time to do something differently, or try something new, they are the ones digging their heels in that you have to drag kicking and screaming. You might think you’re …