Implementing a Talent Management System: What You can Expect

So, you have finally decided to go for the talent management system for your company.

You’re supposed to utilise the new system to attract, develop, and retain the best employees, but fail to do so.

If this has happened to you, then you are probably experiencing poor implementation. You’re unable to achieve the objectives you set for the company, nor any improvements in your employees.

Nobody wants to waste time on initiatives that do not bring results. According to John Kotter, an author and change management guru stated that 70% of change initiatives fail to achieve expected results.

By understanding the implementation framework of a talent management system, you will learn ways to maximise your returns by making the most of the system’s functionalities.

As one of the top implementation partner of Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD) in Asia, TalearnX has managed successful implementation projects for both localised and regional clients, ranging from 100 to 10,000 users across countries. CSOD is the software provider we partner with to provide our clients with the most relevant Talent Management solutions.

The 4 implementation phases of the talent management system

Let’s face it. Getting a talent management system is a big investment and you don’t want the money spent to go down the drain with absolutely nothing achieved.

Therefore, the four phases of implementation: Initiate, Discover, Design, and Deliver — you will find these concepts helpful that you can apply from customer to customer, projects to projects, job to job to help you remain focused on the results.

Through these phases of implementation, you can foresee a successful implementation project to keep your business running and reaching new heights.

Before getting into it, you should know that a typical implementation project with TalearnX will take about 8 to 13 weeks per system module, depending on business complexity. Let’s get started!  

Phase 1: Initiate

The first phase takes place from week one to three. You get to know the members of the implementation team. Our team deals with many clients and has enough experience to interact with people from different backgrounds.

Once you are ready, the project manager will walk you through the scope of work (SOW) and project plan to ensure that the talent management system is meeting your core business needs within a set time frame.

On the other hand, we will also cover the resources you need during the implementation project. How much time will it take for each phase? Who should oversee the implementation progress of the module?  Who should you refer to if you face any technical issues? How many people should you include based on the job scope discussed? For example, if the implementation project is large (approximately 8,000 users), you may need 5 to 7 people in the team to help run the system after it has been implemented.

Phase 2: Discover

In this phase, we focus on gathering detailed requirements and allowing you to explore the basic functionalities of the talent management system.

First, fill up the discovery questionnaire we provide for you about the desired outcome. You will have to bring the team through the work process flow from the current system and the way you envision the improved process with the Cornerstone OnDemand’s integration. By the end of the phase (approximately week 7), you should be able to master 50% of the system’s features.

Once we have completed the analysis of the requirements and processes involved, our consultants will organise 10-20 hour discovery sessions with you. In these sessions, we will introduce you to the features, functions, and limitations of the system. This is also the best time to address any concerns you may have.

Plus, we will also provide recommendations on industry best practices as you adopt the new system. This is particularly useful for medium-sized enterprises as they can latch on their implementation experience with us on other projects.

A common pitfall for any project implementation is the mismatch of understanding between different parties. To ensure that the goals are aligned, TalearnX consultants will design a process map. After finalising the process map and agreed upon by all parties, we will then create prototypes and present demos of the system’s key functionalities to you.

Phase 3: Design

As you enter into week 7 to 10, you can finally have hands-on practice to configure and design workflows in the system. At the end of the phase, you should be mastering 90% of the system features.

In the meantime, we will create a configuration workbook with you. This workbook provides a list of configurations and preferences that you need to know about the system and is specific to your business needs.

One of the main advantages of Cornerstone OnDemand talent management system has over its competitors is its user-friendliness and simplicity, even for non-IT professionals.

‍Phase 4: Deliver

Finally, as we get into the last phase (week 10-13), you will conduct a User Acceptance Test (UAT) on the system’s features. This is the time for you to explore every nook and cranny of the system (at least for the core features), so you can fully understand its functionalities and behaviours.

We will normally provide on-site UAT support to expedite the process and resolve any issues that may arise. Since we are all working from home due to the pandemic, consultants will set aside time to be online with you daily to discuss any issues you may encounter.

Apart from that, a Customer Success Manager (CSM) from CSOD will be assigned to you from the start of the implementation. The CSM will be the client’s primary liaison with CSOD as long as you are using the system. CSM will also assist with the change management strategy to ensure a high rate of system adoption within the company.

Drive business growth with proper implementation

In summary, we have covered all aspects of the implementation process in this article. All four phases (Initiate, Discover, Design, and Deliver) are necessary to ensure a successful Talent Management System adoption for all our client.

If you are interested in finding out more on how to propel your workforce into the future, feel free to reach out to us at TalearnX for cutting-edge Talent Management solutions!

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