The Evolution of Technology and the Implementation Consultant, Part 1

Aside from being a technology professional of one sort or another since the late 1970s, I have always been a student of historical events and what comes out of them. I’ve also always enjoyed writing—I find it therapeutic—so throughout my various careers, I’ve made it a point to put my observations about business and society down on paper. I’ve always found it interesting to go back and see what my thinking was a decade or more ago…a scrapbook of sorts. I never expected these thoughts to be published, but when I mentioned my “scrapbook” to the marketing staff at ArcherPoint, they were very excited and wanted me to share it. Since I’ve been particularly intrigued by technology’s impact on productivity—what it has done, can do, and will do, I’d like to share that portion of my thoughts in a series of blogs. I hope you enjoy them, and I look forward to your thoughts and feedback.

As an implementation consultant of 30 years and a business professional for the past 40, I have personally observed the overwhelming growth of the use of technology in business. My involvement in this growth has allowed me to observe the impact it has had both on me and numerous other professionals that elected to pursue careers in the implementation consulting field.

Before I go further, let me first provide my definition of an “implementation consultant.” The implementation consultant evaluates the current business processes of a company and provides information on how to improve business process, then trains and directs the users to implement those new business processes using the latest software. The implementation consultant’s primary job is to provide the client with expert advice on how to automate their business processes, adding business value by removing manual processes and reducing inefficiencies. Over the years in this role, I have experienced and observed the unfathomable changes that have occurred in the advancement in technology.

My observations do not include the users of software, as they can form their own conclusions, although there are parallels with my experiences. The end result is the same for both the user and implementation consultant—that being the incredible amount of information and skill required to absorb and use the multitude of technologies available.

The Beginning Years and My Life Changing Decision

Years ago, when I entered college, I was disillusioned with the study of mechanical engineering and decided to seek another path. Sitting in the Cal State University Fullerton library, I happened to read a BusinessWeek magazine issue that featured articles from three different disciplines: accounting, marketing, and operations. I really had no interest in accounting and was not the marketing “type”, so I decided that the field I wanted to proceed with was management with an emphasis in business operations. Included in the basic description of the discipline (operations) was an overview of the infant technology of inventory management and operations planning via computer that I noticed but did not realize at the time the effect that it would later have on my career.

I walked from the Fullerton library to the Administration building to change my major to Business Management; in those days, operations and logistics were not disciplines. I thought about the future and where I would go, but I never imagined the path I would be following, the industries I would be involved in, the skills I would develop.

At the time, I did not realize the role technology would soon play in my career and continue to influence my role as an implementation consultant. What I did realize was the potential for technology to increase productivity and efficiency on manual tasks that I endured during the beginning of my career, but later would be automated by technology systems.

Whatever career you are in—and regardless of whether you are an end user, project manager, implementer, or developer, most likely technology is a large part of it, whether you planned for it or not. My question for you is, what were your expectations of technology—if any—at the beginning of your career, and what has been the reality of technology? How, if at all, have your expectations changed? What do you expect now from technology in the areas in which it affects you every day or in large implementation engagements?

Please feel free answer the questions above by leaving a comment to start a discussion, and watch for part two of the series.