The importance of closely aligning IT with business objectives is indisputable and never more so than today in complex stakeholder environments where business change projects need to be justified with quick and tangible return on investment. However, many organisations still struggle to get this right; with many businesses operating in information silos leading to duplication, poor productivity and ultimately poor customer service.
Acceptance needs to be used strategically and holistically to help IT and the business deliver change efficiently while controlling risk...It is essential to see Acceptance as not just about technology; it also includes transformational changes to end-to-end business processes.
Acceptance, properly planned and executed, can be used to gain support and buy-in to change. It provides an excellent tool to make sure business change achieves the desired outcomes, enabling lasting business benefits to be achieved. Acceptance assures the quality and completeness of systems delivery and ensures that it matches agreed business requirements and meets reasonable user expectations. This is done by engaging with the users who will be impacted by the change right from the start at the requirements stage. The process provides consistent measurement throughout and then final sign off and implementation of the change into the live business environment.
In the past, senior managers may have been remote from the Acceptance process; however, the business landscape is now changing.
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