Changing System Integrators: A Baseball Analogy

For a variety of reasons, organizations in the midst of a project often consider replacing their system integrator (SIs). The project may be the implementation of a new system, an upgrade, or an add on type of engagement in which new functionality is enabled. (The latter typically takes place after initial system activation.)

Consider the following three stages of a system implementation in the context of a baseball analogy:

• The First Inning: The SI has completed about 25 percent of the system’s design and testing.
• Mid-Game: The SI has completed about 60 percent of the system’s design and testing.
• The Home Stretch: The SI has completed about 90 percent of the system’s design and testing. The company is on the verge of going live.