The information technology landscape is littered with failed implementations. Some of these have been caused by inferior products released to market too early, others by inexperienced vendors who have been unable to match business requirements with product features and functionality. By far the biggest contributor, however, is the resistance by users to embrace and accept this change.
Great IT applications are often purchased by organisations with the aim of increasing productivity as well as attaining growth, but those who are supposed to use them often reject these applications. It has been argued that acceptance of the technology by the user is the pivotal factor determining the success or failure of an information system. Statistics shows that people account for 40% of any new system implementation while technology only accounts for 25% and business processes 30%.
It was with this context in mind and after a year of research into the viability and possibility of providing such solutions that IA Systems, a provider of electronic document management solutions, launched its new Technology Acceptance Division in February 2003.
It is important to differentiate the difference between change management and technology acceptance. Says Sthembile Gamede, Technology Acceptance Business Unit Manager at IA Systems: "Technology acceptance is in essence a slice of change management. Much of the same methodologies are employed to ensure successful projects but perhaps the specificity required at the TAC level is the greatest differentiator between the typical change management projects. We in no ways compete with the large consulting firms offering change management but rather work with them to augment their project and fill the gaps on the technology side."
While change management focuses on the change process and techniques to make change easier, technology acceptance internalises the change for the users and works with techniques, which help sustain change acceptance.
The Technology Acceptance business unit has recently formed a partnership with the Change Navigation Division of CS Holdings in an effort to provide both change management and technology acceptance services.
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