Just like the family vacation, understanding where you are,
where you want to go and the sights and stops along the way helps to keep
everyone informed, engaged, involved and hopefully not car sick!
A technology road map needs to include an understanding of
where the business intends to go (the Strategic Business Plan), how HR with
help it get there (HR Goals and Objectives), the resources available to use on
the journey (workforce plan, resource definition and technical plan), the
milestones along the way and the interrelationships between the players.
The goal of the Road Map is threefold:
Communicate the
vision and strategy to senior management,
Secure buy in and
funding,
Be able to adapt
quickly as change happens.
We’re communicating so loudly that no one can hear us!
Between the project plan, the milestone chart, the
communication newsletter, the executive updates, the HR leadership team
meetings, etc. one might assume that management would know where the project
stands. Never assume!
Different people hear different media, different
messages. In our experience you cannot
over communicate…but you can overload.
What do they want to hear?
What do they need to hear? What
do you need to tell them?
The key to communication is to tell the audience and then
ask the audience. If all levels and
participants are not on the same page, then no matter what the project
communication says, management does not know what to believe. The results can undermine project champion
confidence. Perception is reality.
Poll your people.
Manage focus groups. Listen, ask,
and then listen again.
Keep your friends close and management closer!
