Why is it important to have wide school staff stakeholder buy-in? When changing School Software Systems
Gaining stakeholder buy-in can be a daunting and hard-won task but is essential for the successful implementation and uptake of any new technology for any business. This is especially the case for schools using educational tech.
Why is it important to have a wide school staff stakeholder buy-in? When changing school Software systems
When current school software systems are evaluated and new school systems selected it is not always possible to include all users in the process. This can leave staff members feeling lost and confused as to why established systems are being changed. It is important to include as many staff in the early stages of evaluation as possible to help mitigate the confusion and resistance to change that, in many ways, is inevitable. The more school staff members have been involved in evaluation the more understanding will be created as to why a new system has been chosen and the easier it will be to form working groups and change management teams.
Technological abilities and confidence can vary widely across staff members. This is especially the case in schools where some teachers will have minimal use for tech, others will be accessing and using during every lesson and administrative staff will have strong IT skillsets. When a new system has been selected it is essential that users at all levels are included so that they buy into the change and understanding of the requirement can be cemented from the outset. This early involvement will increase usage and early uptake of the benefits offered through the implementation of the system.
It can take time for staff members to accept and buy into change. For any implementation to be successful early and regular communication cannot be underestimated.
