Pilot Users and Sites

  • Article

Carefully select the users and sites that you want to participate in the pilot. First establish your selection criteria and then choose a method for selecting candidates. Methods you can use include interviews, questionnaires, and requests for volunteers.

If you have multiple pilots, the type of users you select might vary as the pilots progress. Eventually, you should include end users that are typical of your organization. For an early pilot, however, a good group of users has these attributes:

  • Able to derive tangible benefit from Windows 2000.

  • Plays a noncritical role in day-to-day operations.
    The group should be able to absorb some downtime or performance degradation if problems occur.

  • Representative of the target environment.
    Choose groups or sites that do not have unique requirements or operating environments because you want the pilot to predict how your design and rollout will work in your environment at large.

  • Performs a variety of activities with a variety of computer hardware.

  • Enthusiastic about the Windows 2000 project.

  • Comfortable with technology.
    Users who are comfortable with technology tend to be more patient with problems that occur during a pilot and are more likely to push the system. This type of user, however, might accept problems that should be supported. Encourage these users to report every problem they encounter, or you might find that their learning curve will not represent that of the typical user. When you plan subsequent pilots and the full deployment, consider the effect of such differences in user groups.

  • Willing to receive training.

Remember that users who are less experienced with technology need more guidance to prepare them for their role and more support during the pilot.

Determine the number of sites and users for the pilot based on these criteria:

  • Goals for the pilot

  • Number of functions and features you are testing

  • Size of your support staff

After you select your participants, choose one of them as your user liaison. Select someone who has good communication skills and a good relationship with both the pilot group and the project team. Work with the user liaison as you plan the pilot. The liaison can provide you with information about the type of work the pilot group performs and can prepare the group for their role. To encourage users to participate and offer feedback, provide an incentive program. For example, you might give away prizes or have managers give recognition to participants who make a special effort to contribute during the pilot.