Event Recap: Workday Transformation Priorities and Pitfalls
On Thursday, 12th September, Investigo hosted an insightful event for over 40 senior HR and transformation professionals, focusing on Workday transformation projects and best practices for successful adoption. Three seasoned Workday experts; Sam Bullen, Jacqueline Weintraub, and Justin Hydes, shared their valuable insights into ensuring the success of Workday transformations. Below is a summary of the key takeaways from each speaker, along with insights from the interactive discussion with the attendees.
Jacqueline Weintraub: Preparing for Success Before Implementation
Jacqueline Weintraub, with over a decade of experience working with Workday, kicked off the event by emphasizing the importance of preparation before even signing on the dotted line. Whether the implementation involves a full deployment or a single module, getting everyone on board early is essential for a successful outcome.
Weintraub highlighted the critical need to understand the “why” behind the project. It's vital to identify the right people to involve and recognize who will be impacted. This ensures that key stakeholders are engaged from the beginning and can champion the project within their teams.
One of the biggest challenges, she noted, is resource strain. Too often, employees are overworked, which negatively affects the success of transformation projects. She stressed the importance of staffing up early and prioritizing change management to foster widespread adoption and avoid the "fear of the system." As she put it, “Staff up, understand your data, and approach the project with a solid change management perspective.”
Justin Hydes: Avoiding Pitfalls in Implementation
Next up was Justin Hydes, a Workday expert with more than 15 years of experience. His presentation focused on key pitfalls to avoid during Workday implementation. Hydes noted that one of the biggest mistakes companies make is underestimating the importance of Phase 0, especially when it comes to technical data discovery. He explained that this phase lays the groundwork for the entire project and should never be skipped or rushed.
Hydes also stressed the importance of thoughtful design. He explained that HR will undergo the most significant changes, making it essential to integrate change management into every phase of the project. One of the most common pitfalls he sees is that organizations tend to focus on core design around the head office while ignoring the broader business needs, often missing the “golden thread” of what makes the business successful.
Additionally, Hydes shared that reporting often becomes a neglected area. As projects move forward, people get busy, and reporting tends to fall off the radar. However, keeping this element top of mind from the beginning is crucial. He also encouraged senior leadership to actively participate in the system, as their example will encourage adoption among other employees.
One of his key quotes resonated with the audience: “If people don’t know the data, this is a failure in design.” This emphasized the importance of making data accessible and easy to understand across all levels of the organization.
Sam Bullen: Driving Adoption Through User Experience
Sam Bullen, another seasoned Workday professional, focused his talk on how to drive adoption effectively. He pointed out that giving employees direct access to Workday not only reduces the need for extensive training but also builds trust in the system. By empowering employees to explore the system independently, organizations can mitigate the risk of attrition that often accompanies transformation projects.
Bullen discussed the increasing demand for self-service capabilities, likening it to the control people now expect from mobile banking apps. He explained that employees want easy access to their data and are less reliant on others for support thanks to features like chatbots. According to Bullen, there is no such thing as too much help when it comes to making systems user-friendly. Ensuring a seamless experience for the end user is critical to building confidence in the platform.
Key Discussion Points from the Crowd
The event closed with a lively discussion on several relevant topics. One point that sparked debate was the importance of branding a transformation project to increase adoption. While some attendees believed giving the project a name and identity could drive enthusiasm, others argued that it might complicate matters by creating unnecessary hype.
The group also explored the pros and cons of automation testing during implementation and questioned the balance of involvement between IT and HR in Workday transformation projects. Some attendees argued for a more collaborative approach, while others maintained that HR should have a more significant stake due to the direct impact on people and processes.
Conclusion: Key Takeaways for Workday Transformation Success
The event provided a wealth of knowledge and practical advice for HR professionals navigating Workday transformations. The key takeaways can be summarized as follows:
Preparation is key: Ensure thorough planning before signing any contracts.
Involve the right people: Engage stakeholders early and often, especially those impacted by the changes.
Avoid common pitfalls: Prioritize technical data discovery, thoughtful design, and consistent reporting.
Drive adoption: Build user trust through accessible and user-friendly systems like chatbots and self-service capabilities.
Collaborate across teams: IT and HR need to work together to ensure successful implementation and adoption.
By following these insights, organizations can navigate the complexities of Workday transformations and ensure a smoother, more successful adoption process.
Interested in learning more? Contact our specialist Workday team here.
