Did you know one of the biggest change movements happening right now across K12 private schools is digital transformation? One of the most important aspects of digital transformation is organizational change.
Moving an entire school to adopt new software and technology, new processes, and a new philosophy in how you execute operations involves a major shift for staff, families, and students. This organizational shift can be slow going at first but take heart we’ll share some helpful tips for acceptance, acceleration, and adoption.
Let’s be honest, too. The only people that are typically happy about change are the ones that are unhappy with the status quo. Yet change is inevitable in our lives and there are ways to make it easier by understanding it better.
If we look at how, for instance, schools have gone from blackboard use to SMART board use – we can track this in digital transformation in the same way. Did you know the first blackboard was used in 1801 and was not widely adopted until 1850? If teachers at that time would have known that in the future teachers would be using SMART boards they would not have believed it. Yet here we are!
“If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies”
The Change Adoption Cycle – Blackboards, Whiteboards, SMART boards
We all know change is challenging, but digital transformation in some ways can be simply explained as the same process from going to chalkboard to whiteboard to SMART boards in the classroom. It took some time to move students, teachers and even parents to the idea that SMART boards were worth an investment, but now that classrooms have those, the interactive abilities they offer is undeniable. As schools continue to be future-focused, enabling schools to accelerate and improve their software integration and adopt an all-in-one tool is not only a timesaver, but is also a way to empower digital transformation. Digital transformation means better communication between parents, alumni, boards, teachers, funders and staff.
If you ask yourself, how long does it take to write 25 pieces of data on a blackboard in comparison to the speed with which a SMART board works – you immediately see the difference.
That’s the power of technology. That’s why we’re offering these four ways to explain, encourage and accelerate the adoption and integration of a robust software system that will empower your schools.
Focus on the Positive
Most people dislike change because they fear it is going to negatively affect something in their lives. These anxieties can be anything. I don’t have time to learn something new? Will all my old data be lost? What will I do with all these old pieces of chalk and my chalkboard? What if I can’t learn this new system? How will this impact my job? Acknowledge that fear and then focus on all of the positive things your new technology will bring for the individual. Tailor your message for each person and the role they have within your organization.
Good UX Design Will Drive Faster Adoption
Just as in SMART boards in the classrooms, there is no advantage to investing in new technology if no one uses it. Well-designed and streamlined software applications that are easy to learn and intuitive drive adoption and usage. They open the door to approaching problems differently, improving your output, and changing thought processes. When people are able to learn on their own, they feel more empowered and engage in new software more quickly.
Collaboration is Key
The software tools you use across your campus should work with each other and encourage better collaboration across teams. When the new software is integrated with existing systems and allows for data sharing across systems, your ease of adoption will increase. Empower your early adopters to help your late adopters through training and mentoring.
Customer Support is Vital to Longterm Success
While it’s important to ensure that the school administrative software you choose meets the unique needs of your school, you also need to ensure that you have the support you need throughout the lifecycle of your software. A powerful software provider will spend time understanding your needs and configuring the software to best serve your staff and family community. Implementation and training should be included in your pricing plan as well as the option for expanded support services.
TADS has helped over 3,000 schools implement new software and orchestrate organizational change. We’re adept at helping any school adopt new ways to empower their staff. We know that each school has unique needs, workflows, reporting and processes. TADS’s team of experts draws on their years of experience to ensure your software transition is seamless.
