Business Financial Advisor
...or Bookkeeper? In day to day experiences with some bookkeepers and support staff comes the objection or resistance to a company successfully installing business intelligence reporting software. Most times, it is for fear of an employee loosing their responsibility of spending countless hours on tasks creating spreadsheets. Fear of a position being eliminated seems to always be lurking under the surface. The key point is that people are needed but rolls change.
Lack of understanding or confidence is normally an underlying problem. When successful implementation takes place, employees understand the fact that quality analytic tools and data visualization tools do not replace the need of bookkeeping or business intelligence administration.
Roles change from performing the daily "busy work" tasks of spreadsheets, to becoming a student of the business and assuming a role as a business financial advisor to the company. New tools will still require administration. Data mining and visualization technology can save time and as well as provide better information. Busy work can now be replaced with smart work.
Embracing data visualization technology and becoming a part of the solution rather than an obstacle to overcome is the better business decision. New technology is here to stay for business and creates a new opportunity for professional growth.
First steps to engaging employees in change:
- Conduct a focus group meeting regarding need for KPI strategy
- Actively include group members thoughts in focus group conversation
- Include members in the product investigation process
- Provide the tools and training for implementation
- Have written out measurable goals with assigned responsibility
- Measure progress towards goals regularly
- Keep the team involved in the problem and resolution process
For more information about steps to develop KPI, see the blog: Data Visualization Technology for Employee Performance Measurement
