1. Define Clear Objectives Clearly articulate the goals and scope of the integration. 2. Centralize Communication Use collaboration tools (like Slack, Teams, or Asana) to ensure everyone is on the same page. 3. Set Roles and Responsibilities Assign specific responsibilities to team members and vendors. 4. Develop a Detailed Plan Break the integration into smaller phases or tasks with deadlines. 5. Leverage Documentation Use clear, comprehensive documentation to avoid misunderstandings. 6. Ensure Compatibility Verify that the vendor's systems are compatible with your IT infrastructure before starting integration. 7. Engage Key Stakeholders Involve stakeholders from both sides early to address potential challenges. 9. Prioritize Training

Firmar acuerdos de nivel de servicio (SLA): Establecer expectativas claras sobre tiempos de respuesta y calidad del soporte. Implementar metodologías ágiles: Usar marcos como Scrum para fomentar iteraciones rápidas y adaptaciones. Asignar un facilitador: Designar un enlace entre proveedores y el equipo de TI para asegurar fluidez en la comunicación. Realizar reuniones periódicas: Revisar avances y abordar problemas antes de que escalen. Estas estrategias pueden optimizar la colaboración y prevenir conflictos.

My experience with integration new IT or communications systems is that the needs of the company have to be well defined and clear to the provider. Both sides have to have good champions that have ownership of the plan. And of course, the planned system should always be expandable or editable, and ideally open source.

Clear Communication: Establish open lines of communication from the start. Regular meetings and updates can help keep everyone on the same page. Defined Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly outline what each party is responsible for. This can prevent misunderstandings and ensure accountability. Set Realistic Goals and Deadlines: Make sure everyone agrees on the timelines and deliverables. This helps in managing expectations and avoiding delays. Use Collaboration Tools: Utilize project management and collaboration tools to streamline communication and document sharing. Regular Performance Reviews: Schedule periodic reviews to assess progress and address any issues early on. Risk Management: develop mitigation strategies.

Ensure that everyone involved has a clear understanding of the project's goals, objectives, and specific requirements. Document and share these details with both vendors and IT teams. Establish clear communication channels and regular meetings. Clearly define and document the roles and responsibilities. Develop a detailed project plan. Standardize processes and protocol. Conduct regular progress reviews. Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies. Provide adequate training and support to both internal teams and external vendors. Establish a feedback loop that allows team members and vendors to share their experiences, concerns, and suggestions. Acknowledge and celebrate milestones and achievements.

Coordinating with external vendors and IT teams for Information Systems integration requires a structured approach. Clear communication protocols are essential to align stakeholders on objectives, timelines, and deliverables. Adopting agile project management enhances flexibility, allowing quick adaptation to evolving requirements. Utilizing standardized frameworks like TOGAF for architecture or ITIL for service management streamlines integration by addressing both technical and business needs. Effective governance, including regular progress reviews and risk mitigation strategies, is critical to maintaining alignment and ensuring successful integration outcomes.

"Struggling to coordinate" involves humans, so the focus must be on humans, not on methods or tools. - Plan face-to-face conversations and detect exposed and implicit (silent) issues. - Analyze coordination weakness points - Suggest methods and tools that address those issues and imply all concerned parties in those choices. - Avoid brutal forcing on the most trendy tools or practices, starting by the coordination ones. Focus on humans and on making the stack-holders reach the best value, not on the best method or tool, and you will be less "Struggling".