Implementing the change in practice onto projects

This is the fourth in a series of articles on the five states of digital transformation.

What are the key considerations when implementing a digital transformation programme? Firstly, it’s important to understand that implementing is just one of a series of five states outlined in the Global BIM Network’s new Public Sector Construction Digital Transformation Playbook. This online publication explains how the states of justifying, mobilising, developing, implementing and scaling together build successful transformation programmes.

The implementing phase is vital as it signals the shift from planning and setup to practical application in a digital transformation programme. It tests the collaborative framework and guidance already developed and begins building capacity within project teams and the wider industry.

It also introduces many new stakeholders and requires effective change management and communication. Successful implementation showcases quick wins, builds confidence and promotes best practice across projects. It allows for real-world feedback to further refine the framework if needed and serves as a critical bridge between theory and practice, setting the stage for subsequent scaling.

Key challenges for personas

Three user types, or personas, play different roles in the implementing state.

The policy / strategy persona is typically less involved and will focus on oversight and governance. They might be involved in reporting back on early successes and achievements against the programme’s vision. They guide the programme through the practical implementation phase, providing public leadership.

The transformation programme persona steps up to become the driving force at this time. They are responsible for overseeing the practical rollout of the digital transformation programme. This includes selecting suitable pilot projects, building capacity within project teams, and refining the collaborative framework based on practical experiences.

The procurer / owner / operator persona is essential in the implementation phase as they are the ones who will benefit from and deliver the outputs of the transformation. They start to engage more widely in the programme, testing and implementing the changes on the pilot projects. They provide valuable feedback to the transformation programme team, which informs future decisions and helps in the development of practical project-specific guidance.

Six considerations

The following key considerations may be addressed in the implementing state:

Targeted change management;
Revisit relevant principles of justifying, mobilising and developing for specific organizations / projects;
Test an implementation model which can be refined for scaling;
Alignment of public sector, industry and academia;
Implementation strategy and planning; and
Defining criteria and selecting pilot organizations and projects.

Typical outputs

The Playbook links to real-world examples of typical outputs in the implementing state. These, and many more, are contained in the Network’s digital knowledge base, the Information Collection.