How to Get Buy-In Motivation to Implement a Managed OPC Solution Across All Departments

How to Get Buy-In Motivation to Implement a Managed OPC Solution Across All Departments

In his book, The Heart of Change, Harvard Business School Professor John Kotter states that three quarters of an organisation must be onboard with change in order for a proposal to be approved. And so, if you’re thinking about introducing an OPC solution into your business, it’s imperative that you get buy-in motivation to implement change.

However, one aspect that is important to remember here is that getting buy-in for an OPC solution isn’t quite the same as getting buy-in for risk software like Primavera Risk Analysis, or planning software like Microsoft Project. Oracle Primavera Cloud is designed to provide a complete overview of every aspect of the project’s life cycle, and is intended for use by employees not only from planning but from finance, HR, and more. 

And so you’re not only asking for buy-in to implement a managed OPC solution within your department itself; you’re asking for buy-in to implement across all departments. 

So, how do you do it?

Leveraging the Power of Internal Unifiers

The first step is to work to build internal buy-in from those that will be expected to adapt their processes and start using the software. There’s huge value in doing this, as it not only helps the c-suite to understand the widespread benefits of such a system, but also ensures that these benefits are communicated in a way that the board understands. 

The risk with approaching this from the perspective of the planning department exclusively is that the benefits are communicated using planning language, which can often be too niche to resonate with the board. Your c-suite doesn’t speak ‘planning’. 

When a business case is built from the perspective of multiple stakeholders, it’s easier to communicate in a broader manner using a more unified, global language that’s easy to understand, and helps the board to better see the overall, business-wide value. 

However, this can sometimes be easier said than done. This is your idea. This is your goal. And you naturally want to remain in control of the process. But it’s vital to leverage the power of internal unifiers to create motivation for buy-in based on a truly shared vision. 

When working closely with other departments to motivate buy-in, you’ll be able to understand and communicate a wider selection of benefits of an OPC solution that extend beyond your own planning department. These advantages may include:

• Reducing project risk
• Improved insight
• Smarter decision making
• Cross-departmental standardisation
• Better outcomes
• Reduce project costs
• Heightened data accuracy

Acknowledging Board-Level Needs

In addition to communicating the broader benefits that OPC implementation can bring to multiple departments, it’s also important to communicate the board-level advantages that such a system can bring. Interest can typically be broken down into two areas:

1. Strategic Imperatives

Strategic imperatives incorporate elements such as operational expenses, return on investment, profitability, and overall revenue. When trying to get buy-in motivation for implementing a managed OPC solution, it’s important to consider how the technology can align with business objectives and strategic imperatives to generate value. The focus here should be on Oracle Primavera Cloud as a common data environment, enabling managers to quickly create accurate dashboards, reports and present to the c-suite as needed.

2. Trends and Disruptors

Trends and disruptors incorporate elements such as market shifts, industry movements, and changes in client expectations and demands. While the adoption of project controls across Europe has been somewhat slow, the global pandemic has resulted in clients placing more importance than ever on risk management and cost reduction, with many organisations racing to implement project controls to meet demand. A managed OPC solution can build a competitive advantage in the ‘new normal’.

Developing an OPC Project Management Strategy

One aspect of buy-in that’s often overlooked is the importance of developing an OPC project management strategy that can be presented to the c-suite as needed. When you want to roll out a new system across all departments, you can’t simply turn up at work one morning and say ‘you used to do things that way, but now you do things this way’. It doesn’t work like that. You need to demonstrate that you understand how change can be disruptive, and show you have a plan of action to drive success. 

According to reports, less than one third of businesses have what they need to successfully navigate a digital transformation, so having a plan that addresses implementation risks and the need for training can go a long way towards buy-in. 

It may seem challenging to get buy-in motivation, but it’s worth the effort. Project controls software is undoubtedly one of the most effective and efficient ways to reduce project risk, which is key to improving outcomes, building a strong reputation, winning more contracts, and ultimately becoming a true leader in your field. With a strong business case and support from all departments, you can improve your chances of getting the buy-in motivation you need to implement a managed OPC solution.