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Ensuring Correct Execution of Decisions

The only way to be certain a decision is being properly carried out and that the results are up to expectations is to monitor the costs and results achieved.
In order to achieve this, regular milestones with costs and progress should be built into the implementation plan. The planned goals are then measured against those actually experienced in order to have some measure of control over the entire process. Whether this is effective or not depends on how well the initial plan has been developed, and this, in turn, depends on the investigation.

A lower-risk way to develop a plan as well as speed implementation ist build in a pilot project and have a staggered roll-out, if at all possible. A pilot project helps highlight unexpected difficulties with an implementation and enables the implementers to familiarize themselves with the implementation without requiring quite as steep a learning curve or exerting as much pressure on the implentation team. The results are also very clear because the complete results can reasonably be extrapolated. the resources which need to be committed are also much less and the consequences of failure much reduced. The plans for further roll-out can then be modified in the light of this experience and a more realistic set of metrics developed.

Another good technique is a proof-of-concept model.. If one hasn't been used during the initial investigation, one might be specified in the implementation plan either before or instead of a pilot project. this also helps clarify issues involved at low cost but is not as effective for this purpose as a pilot project as it not an actual implementation. But it does have many of the same advantages, to a lesser extent.

Whether a pilot project is practical or not it is wise to have a set of interim goals to monitor progress so that further decisions can be taken at each stage.

Another very useful approach to implementations is to have a firm commitment for the initial stage and ball-park figures thereafter. At the completion of each stage the goals are reviewed in the light of experience and the firm plans made for the next stage. this helps to reduce risk as it is usually clear when something is awry with the whole concept and action taken at an early stage, before too many resources are committed. This approach is particularly useful for external contractors quoting on a project, but it is also valid for in-house projects.

The objective is to try and limit any potential losses and take action at an early stage, if possible. Not every decision is correct and not every project is successful. The sooner problems are picked up the more limited the impact will be. Clear and measurable goals help to achieve this.