There’s a lot of confusion around Implementers and how they help companies. And if you’re an Integrator, maybe you’re hesitant to work with one because there may be confusion in role clarity.
The truth is, Implementers and Integrators are complementary roles that can boost company growth but only when they work together correctly.
What does an Implementer do?
An Implementer is someone who introduces a new system of processes and procedures into a company and assists the leadership team with rolling it out to all the teams. Some popular operational systems that traditionally need an Implementer are Scrum, Lean, or EOS®. The process goes like this: Once the Implementer is hired, they’ll teach the new system to the leadership team and then the leadership team AND Implementer will work together to teach the new system to the entire company.
So the next question is WHO should your Implementer be?
An Implementer can be someone who already works with your company or someone you would hire from outside your company.
If it’s someone who’s inside the company, they would need to know the new system inside and out BEFORE taking over the Implementer role. Sometimes companies hire someone specific with the intention of moving them into that role at some point in the future. This is beneficial because they would know all about the company, the leadership team, and the day to day business before implementing anything new. When they move into the Implementer role however, this person would most likely need to take a break from their normal role to implement the system. In many cases, the “break” would be a permanent role reassignment and a replacement would need to be considered to take care of their previous duties.
A more popular option is to hire an Integrator from outside your company. This is a good option as well because they would be in a position to bring a unique outside perspective to your business. They wouldn’t have any pre-existing opinions or previous knowledge about your company which allows them to have a fresh look at everything you’re doing.
There are pros and cons to both Implementer types and way too many to list here but deciding whether to hire someone from outside your company or inside your company is a decision you’ll need to thoroughly discuss as a leadership team to discover which option will work best for your company.
Decide confidently
When deciding to move to a new operating system, the most critical aspect is to make sure the company leadership team is in agreement on 2 things:
1. A new system is needed
2. An Implementer is needed.
Training, coaching, and mentoring with an Integrator usually comes with a sizable price tag. If someone on your leadership team isn’t willing to make changes to the company, or if there is some other issue with hiring an Implementer, the implementation process won’t be effective. You’ll ultimately waste valuable time and resources. Having everyone on the same page is 100% critical to a successful implementation.
Once the decision is made, you’ll need to know who is accountable for what during the implementation. Your Implementer will go over everything very clearly but below is usually how things roll out.
So… who does what?
During the implementation process, the Implementer will introduce new concepts and ideas and give the leadership team the tools they need to be successful. It’s the function of the Integrator to then ensure that the new system is implemented throughout the company. The Implementer will help out when needed but the system “roll out” is the responsibility of the Integrator.
Obviously, they can’t do it all by themselves so it is beneficial that the leadership team move forward with the changes as a unified front. This will show everyone that they are confident in the new system and that while it may be difficult at first, there will be support from the leadership team when needed.
A quick note:
As mentioned above, the roles of Implementer and Integrator are very different, but somehow, there’s a misconception floating around that Integrators and Implementers do the same thing. This has caused some to think that an Implementer is hired because the Integrator is underperforming or that they’re going to be replaced. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
In no way are Implementers hired to replace Integrators. Instead, they work together to bring clarity to new processes and operational purity to the company.
