Field Notes from the Transition: Tip #10
The Missing Conduit Role
The Observation: I have walked into implementations where both the vendor and the client are working hard, yet the project feels as if it is moving in two different directions. The vendor is following a structured configuration plan, and the operations team is focused on shipping orders, but the alignment between them is slowly eroding. The issue is rarely a lack of effort. It is a lack of translation. Information is being exchanged, but the meaning behind the requirements is getting lost in the gap between technical logic and floor reality. People often hear what is said, but they do not always understand what is meant.
The Tip: Assign a single requirements conduit responsible for protecting operational truth throughout the entire implementation lifecycle.
The Executable Step: Identify one individual who can operate comfortably in both the technical and operational worlds. Start with these three specific capabilities in this conduit role:
First, they must be able to translate complex operational needs into clear system language that a developer or consultant can execute.
Second, they must have the authority to validate vendor assumptions against actual floor behavior before any configuration or coding begins.
Third, they must attend all key design discussions to continuously test whether the proposed solution still reflects your operational reality.
I can help you define this role and mentor your internal leads to become the bridge that ensures your technology investment actually works for your people.
Why This Matters: Clarity does not happen automatically. It has to be carried. Without a dedicated conduit, requirements inevitably become interpretations and assumptions that drift away from how your business actually functions. When this role is missing, you risk building a system that is technically perfect but operationally unusable. A conduit ensures that your go-live is a successful transition into a new reality rather than just a technical event on a calendar.
Series Conclusion: Reaching the Destination
We have walked through the physical floor, the logic of systems, and the human elements of transition. These ten field notes represent more than a checklist. They represent the steady guidance required to ensure that your technology investment actually works for your people.
Transitions fail when no one owns the space between a vendor's project plan and the client's operational truth. My goal as a conduit is to protect that business and operational truth and help you reach your destination successfully.
If your organization is approaching a critical growth inflection point or if any question have surfaced, I would welcome the opportunity to walk the path with you.
