Insufficient preparation: the cause of enterprise Windows 7 migration disarray?
Executing a migration for an enterprise moving from one operating system (OS) to another will always provide challenges. These challenges are not isolated to any individual project, with many of the same issues reoccurring throughout different desktop migration projects. These can include unforeseen technical issues, application bottlenecks and restrictive timelines. But none of these challenges can be exclusively attributed as the main reason as to why large enterprise Windows 7 migration projects descend into disarray.
The moment a program sponsor agrees on a budget for the migration project is an exciting one. Lots of activity ensues with great enthusiasm and speed. However, the consequence of this enthusiasm is that there is barely time to implement a suitable framework or agree on a set of criteria that can signify success. With a lack of clear direction, projects begin to slow down, and the program sponsor begins to get anxious at the lack of results.
Compare this process to another industry, for example construction, and the differences are clear. When Renzo Piano began to design the Shard building in London, hundreds of architects, planners, logistics experts, engineers and financiers would have been involved long before the foundations were laid. The planning and design phase would have taken years to guarantee every last detail was in place.
The question to ask a large enterprise conducting a Windows 7 or virtualisation migration is whether adequate time has been allocated to get an end to end plan in place?
Poor planning will lead to a migration entering recovery mode. Consultants will be employed to address the challenges, usually at an increased cost, when in reality all they are doing will be to implement a correct planning process in order for the project to function effectively.
Insufficient preparation in the planning and design phase continues to be the most common mistake organisations make when migrating from one OS to another.
At Juriba, we're determined that organisations don't make the same errors that they did in previous migrations. Look out for our free whitepaper coming soon on the best practices that your organisation should follow to accelerate rollouts, whilst reducing risk and cost.
