1. Starting with the largest platform decision
Enterprise-wide selection before process clarity locks the company into configuration debt. Sequence: stabilize critical workflows, then choose platforms that fit the operating model you actually intend to run.
2. Listing initiatives without owners
A roadmap without names is a wish list. Every meaningful item needs a business owner and an operational owner — even if one person holds both roles in a small company.
3. Ignoring capacity to absorb change
Three parallel rollouts can be worse than one completed well. We explicitly budget attention, not only money.
4. Skipping the pilot definition
“Phase 1: implement” is not a plan. Phase 1 should state which users, which workflow, which success threshold, and what happens if the threshold is missed.
What we do instead
Our Systems Alignment Roadmap forces trade-offs into the open and produces a 90-day plan that can be executed by a busy team. Related: approach and offer packages.