Introducing a pilot implementation to the development lifecycle is a reliable means of validating the full implementation approach. Executing a pilot implementation verifies that an application can actually be deployed, uncovers operability issues associated within production-like conditions, and provides an opportunity to address these issues before the application rollout. To determine the need and feasibility of a pilot implementation, an organization should examine criteria such as the implementation scale, deployment dependencies, project budget, readiness of users, associated deployment risks, scheduling, and resource availability. For information on assessing the need for a pilot implementation, refer to the Info-Tech Advisor research note, “Pilot Implementations: The Primer.”
If a pilot is deemed necessary, there are several areas that should be addressed before execution. Follow Info-Tech's recommendations to efficiently prepare for pilot implementation.