March 30, 2009
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Database conversion woes
We’re going through a database conversion at work. They are never easy. And nobody is ever fully ready on the day of the cutover. I’m having a hard time convincing some of the staff that they don’t have to be 100% on the new software to make the switch. I and my associate will be there to help everyone through the transition.
We’ve already moved it forward twice. I’m not moving it again.
I had some training sessions last week to help ease some of the staff’s anxieties. We’ve had a testing version of the new software up for three months. The only staff members that are resistant to the change are the ones that haven’t gone into the system to test it out. We made up workbooks for everyone based on their position. They were supposed to go through the workbook, try the exercise, and describe the steps they took. At the bottom they were to rate it one of three ways:
- I was able to complete this task with little or no difficulty
- I had a hard time with this but finally figured it out
- I couldn’t complete this task and need more training.
The staff that are doing the best have gotten most of the way through their workbooks.
When we do go live, if things don’t go perfectly, I have a feeling I am going to be one very frustrated tech director.
Comments (2)
last busy season, we switched our audit software from lotus notes to caseware. I remember those feelings. But we did the switch. And we survived. Sure there were trials, but we all made it through. It was like we all had a commonality to bond and complain about
@lauralen - I’ve been working with the staff trying to get them to learn on the test system before we go live, because otherwise my life is going to be hell. They are going to expect me to hold their hands through it all until they are comfortable with it. We have one Sr. VP who will require hand-holding for at least a year, maybe more.