What is phased implementation?

Phased Implementation: Putting a new project or product on the market in stages is called phased execution.

Businesses use a phased implementation plan to break projects into smaller, more manageable pieces. Each piece has its schedule and set of goals. This plan gives businesses time to test their product or service in every way before releasing it to more people.

Phased implementation is a way to break up a project into logical steps. It is often used in software and product development. You can think of each stage as its project, with its goals, needs, and due dates.

When companies break projects down, they can control how big and fast they start.

Teams can focus on one part at a time, making it easier to fix any problems during development. This is especially true for goods that are complicated, like ERP systems.

Synonyms

• Phased Software Implementation: A method of software implementation that uses a series of steps to ensure successful deployment.
• Staged Development: A product is developed and released gradually, allowing for more accurate cost forecasting, risk management, and feedback review.
• Phased System Changeover: A strategy for system changeover (i.e., migrating from one system to another) that breaks the process into several steps or stages to ensure a measurable and successful transition.

There are two types of implementation: big bang and phased.

Another way to develop software is the “big bang” method, which some companies like for smaller projects. All product parts are released simultaneously with the “big bang” method, which is often done with a single launch event.

A big bang approach simultaneously releases the product or service, like a “big bang.” This is done instead of breaking the project down into steps. The method needs to be put in place quickly and with little work.

Big Bang implementation works best when:

• The expected demand for the product is high and quick
• The system can be put in place all at once
• There isn’t a lot of time or money for development.

The problem with this method is that any problems during such a quick start can be complex to fix.

On the other hand, timing the process allows for more thorough testing and fewer possible issues. Also, because each part of a project has its due date, it may be easier to budget for and handle each part separately.

Phased implementation also gives you more time to find new products, get user feedback, and study your customers. In this way, businesses can learn more about their ideal customers and what they want before putting the goods on a wide scale.

Pros and cons of implementing changes in stages

Like any other strategy, phased implementation has pros and cons that mainly concern the time frame and business processes that must be changed.

Pros of Implementation in Stages

Businesses can benefit from phased adoption in many ways, such as:

• Less danger. Introducing new goods and services is less risky when the project is broken into more miniature initial stages. Companies can find and fix problems by trying individual parts of a solution before releasing the whole thing. This saves a lot of time and development resources in case the project fails.
• Possible savings in the long run. Bugs and other minor problems can hurt customer happiness, employee adoption, and operational performance. These problems aren’t dealt with by the extensive bang method, which could lead to big problems after the plan is implemented.
• More time to train staff and workers. End users are much more productive when they have time to get to know a product before it goes live to everyone. This method allows companies to train employees properly and ensure the shift goes smoothly.
• I got better comments from customers. Businesses can get useful customer information by releasing system parts on a project plan. This information can then be used to improve the system before it goes live for everyone.
• Decommissioning of old systems earlier. Companies can slowly shut down their old systems using a phased method. If you do this, you can escape the problems that come with a big bang, like losing data and having to shut down.
• There is less chance of scope creep. When a business divides a project into digestible parts, tracking and controlling how the complexity and cost rise over time is more manageable.

Problems with Implementation in Stages

There are some problems with phased applications, of course. Here are some problems you might want to think about:

• Costs went up. Each part needs its creation, testing, deployment, and other steps before it can be used. The costs can add up quickly if the job is not well managed.
• Possible delays in the system’s operation. Since going through each step more slowly than with a “big bang” method may take longer for the solution to be released after a phased implementation,.
• It made things more complicated. It’s hard to keep track of all the tasks, resources, and deadlines when different teams have to work together and organize to implement parts one at a time.
• ROI, that’s late. When a project is implemented in stages, the return on investment can be slowed down because companies have to wait for each stage to finish before they can start making money.
• The use of temporary interfaces a lot. Businesses have to use temporary connections until the whole system is finished because parts are put in place in stages. These add to the cost and difficulty of a job that was already hard.
• The chance of leaving. Since temporary and changing interfaces are always used, the data becomes inconsistent when employees or product testers quit or switch jobs.

What kinds of projects work best with a phased approach?

Phased implementation is an excellent way to get things done for complicated and high-risk projects like those with many different offices and stakeholders.

If a business is a mid-sized or large company that can handle the extra cost and time to completion, it should consider a phased implementation strategy.

• The project is risky, hard to understand, or includes many different people and departments.
• They have time to try and fix each part separately before putting them into production.
• Some strict rules or regulations, like healthcare or financial businesses, must be followed.
• All of the people who will be using the system need more training.
• The product has many user groups with different functional needs. For example, corporate CRM software will be deployed across multiple sites, offices, or countries.

But phased implementation isn’t always the best way to go for every job

For instance, projects short on time and money shouldn’t use phased execution. Before choosing a method, organizations should consider their goals and the tools they have for managing projects.

The extensive bang project management method may also work better for startups and software companies that want to make an MVP since the goal is usually to get something out quickly and cheaply.