EHS MIS Selection: People, Process...and then Technology
Joanne Schroeder
March 30, 2012
Whether you need a system to collect and report sustainability metrics, capture incidents, or facilitate compliance, the process of identifying the right tools is complex yet similar in nature. What we’ve noticed time and time again is that many EHS professionals often begin the process by focusing on the technology. This means perusing vendor websites, attending webinars etc. and, before long, find themselves receiving calls from software sales representatives. The momentum this process creates continues to sales demonstrations and ultimately a vendor selection.
Unfortunately, this scenario often occurs without EHS professionals ever having documented exactly how their team operates and what they want this software to do.
What I’d like to emphasize in this conversation is that many of our top recommendations on where to start, ultimately relate back to the “people, process, technology” triangle. The people, process, technology triangle underscores the importance of looking beyond technology as the sole (or even primary) factor in facilitating change. Software is an enabling tool. Sometimes we select software to embrace embedded best practices. But often we don’t. Sometimes we select software based on a prioritized “best-fit” with defined requirements. But sometimes we don’t. Clearly developing a prioritized list of defined requirements with stated and measurable objectives are critical first steps to selecting the “best” technology for your company. However, beyond technology, the people and process considerations are of equal importance.
Unless your company culture is “command and control” (which is usually not the case in today’s world) it is essential that company staff are emotionally bought in and invested in the technology solution. Opposed staff can quickly derail even the best of technology solutions. Including a wide array of staff in specifying requirements, listening to and documenting wants and needs, polling and gathering general input, is absolutely critical to a successful rollout.
From a process standpoint, technology can enable EHS workflow if, and only if, these work flows have been established, understood and at least minimallydocumented. If not, you will find yourself with no other choices than to embrace the workflow enabled by the software. While this solution may work some of the time, it won’t work if you have not consciously made this choice and are just being dragged along.
For those of you who have been through the EHS MIS selection process, what is your advice for how to begin this internal dialogue? How much time did you set aside for the planning process?
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About the Author
Joanne Schroeder
Arcadis
Joanne Schroeder is driven and experienced executive with over 25 years driving growth in both private and public companies. Joanne’s career has been dedicated to the environmental engineering industry, and is an expert in enterprise digital transformations, having catalyzed transformations in 40% of the Fortune 100 in the environmental, health, safety and sustainability (EHS&S)/ESG functions.
Currently, Joanne is a Vice President and Officer at Arcadis, a global publicly traded engineering consultancy headquartered in The Netherlands. At Arcadis she provides leadership to the EHS&S Digital practice, as well as Account Leadership. Previously, Joanne was founder of engineering technology services companies: Environmental Data Solutions Group, LLC (EDSG), and E2 ManageTech (E2). Both companies provided software services delivering global deployment of information managements systems for Fortune 500 companies. Under her leadership, EDSG and E2 grew until they were acquired by Arcadis.
Her career began in the environmental engineering and construction industry. She provided professional services to companies in nearly every industry sector including water and wastewater utilities, power generation and transmission, industrial manufacturing, paper products, federal government, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, bio- technologies, medical devices and more.
Joanne has an MBA from USC, a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from University of California at Irvine (UCI). She also holds an engineering license in the State of California. She is a thought leader in her industry and authored numerous articles.
Joanne is active in numerous philanthropic endeavors, including The Teen Project, dedicated to rescuing young women from sex trafficking. She also currently serves on the audit committee for Goodwill OC, the largest nonprofit in Orange County with operating revenue of $140million, as well as the Advisory Council for University of Southern California’s Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Joanne is a member of the Private Directors Association and serves on the Leadership Committee for 5050 Women on Board.
Currently, Joanne is a Vice President and Officer at Arcadis, a global publicly traded engineering consultancy headquartered in The Netherlands. At Arcadis she provides leadership to the EHS&S Digital practice, as well as Account Leadership. Previously, Joanne was founder of engineering technology services companies: Environmental Data Solutions Group, LLC (EDSG), and E2 ManageTech (E2). Both companies provided software services delivering global deployment of information managements systems for Fortune 500 companies. Under her leadership, EDSG and E2 grew until they were acquired by Arcadis.
Her career began in the environmental engineering and construction industry. She provided professional services to companies in nearly every industry sector including water and wastewater utilities, power generation and transmission, industrial manufacturing, paper products, federal government, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, bio- technologies, medical devices and more.
Joanne has an MBA from USC, a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from University of California at Irvine (UCI). She also holds an engineering license in the State of California. She is a thought leader in her industry and authored numerous articles.
Joanne is active in numerous philanthropic endeavors, including The Teen Project, dedicated to rescuing young women from sex trafficking. She also currently serves on the audit committee for Goodwill OC, the largest nonprofit in Orange County with operating revenue of $140million, as well as the Advisory Council for University of Southern California’s Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Joanne is a member of the Private Directors Association and serves on the Leadership Committee for 5050 Women on Board.