A system change requires a culture change

A system change requires a culture change

By its very nature, when you introduce a new enterprise-wide system like a new AMS, you are going to have to change the culture of your
organization in order to best leverage the new system.

A simple example: When I work with my clients on selecting a new AMS, they often tell me that only one or a few staff use the current system. "It's too difficult for any of us to use" or "Cindy knows the system best, so we rely on her to manage all the data."

In these examples, the current culture is one where very few staff use the system. But presumably you're changing systems, in part, so that more staff can/will use the system. Whether you realize it or not, that's a change in culture.

A new system is very likely to change many things about your
organization's culture, so you need to be prepared for that. There are entire books written on how to change your culture, so I won't go into that here. But if you really want to get the most from a new AMS, you need to acknowledge that the culture will change, and you need to be prepared to drive that culture change in the most positive way possible.

Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives

Are you being penny wise and pound foolish?

May 27, 2026

Are you being penny wise and pound foolish? Two quick customer service stories to illustrate […]

AMS Products are getting better – and what that means for you

May 20, 2026

AMS Products are getting better – and what that means for you I’ve been working […]

Using AI beyond content generation

May 13, 2026

Using AI beyond content generation Recent surveys by ASAE and others suggest nearly 90% of associations […]

If you’re training, PLEASE do this…

May 6, 2026

If you’re training, PLEASE do this… If you’re doing any kind of software training, or […]

Don’t confuse motion with improvement

April 29, 2026

Don’t confuse motion with improvement I wrote recently how action can produce information. But an […]

Perfection is expensive (in fact, it’s not possible!)

April 22, 2026

Perfection is expensive (in fact, it’s not possible!) “Perfection is expensive. The last 5 percent […]

AI is a journey, not a destination

April 15, 2026

AI is a journey, not a destination Lately I’ve noticed a lot of associations talking […]

Action produces information

April 8, 2026

Action produces information “Action produces information. If you’re unsure of what to do, just do […]

Why a single source of truth is so beneficial…

March 25, 2026

Why a single source of truth is so beneficial… The holy grail of data management is […]

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

March 18, 2026

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should I’ve worked in and with associations for well […]

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top