Is it a data, technology, process, or people problem? Getting to the root of business challenges.
When your CRM isn’t delivering the expected ROI, sales forecasts keep missing the mark, or automation efforts fail to improve efficiency, what’s the first assumption? Many businesses blame the system or the data, while others focus on fixing internal processes. But what if the real issue lies elsewhere? It’s easy to diagnose problems based on what’s most visible, yet the real cause is often buried beneath the surface. Decision-makers invest in new technology when the challenge is actually a broken workflow. Data issues may stem from inconsistent input rather than flawed analytics. A lack of engagement with a system might not mean the tool is wrong. It could be that teams were left out of the decision-making process. Misdiagnosing problems leads to wasted investment, frustrated employees, and limited progress. According to McKinsey, 70% of digital transformation initiatives fail to deliver the intended value, often because businesses attempt to solve the wrong issue. The challenge is knowing where to look.
Why the symptoms can be misleading
Many organisations assume technology will solve their problems, but only 10% of companies actually realise significant financial returns from digital investments (BCG). The reason? A struggling system is not always a technology failure. A perceived data problem does not necessarily mean the data itself is unreliable. CRM adoption is a common example. A business invests in a platform expecting it to improve efficiency, but months later, employees are still defaulting to spreadsheets. The assumption is that the system is too complex or unintuitive. In reality, the issue might be a lack of training, outdated internal processes, or resistance to change.
Similar patterns emerge across industries. A manufacturer facing inaccurate forecasts assumes a data quality issue, only to discover that inconsistent reporting procedures are creating discrepancies between actual inventory and reported sales. A service provider experiencing delays in turnaround times blames outdated technology when fragmented processes are the real cause. A field service team struggling with a new mobile solution believes the software is the problem, but the workflows were never properly adapted to support their on-the-ground needs.
These scenarios are not uncommon. Businesses that correctly identify the root cause are 2.5x more likely to succeed in transformation efforts (Harvard Business Review). The key is approaching the problem from multiple angles before jumping to a solution.
How can you find the real problem?
At Sirocco, we have seen first-hand how tackling the wrong issue leads to costly mistakes. A business may assume a lack of insights is due to a failing analytics tool, but if teams are not entering data consistently in the first place, the system will only reflect those inconsistencies. Understanding what isn’t working is not enough. You need to understand why.
When we work with clients, the process starts with conversations. Speaking with different teams helps uncover how employees interact with the system, where the biggest workflow bottlenecks exist, and whether the issue stems from technology, data, process, or people. These discussions reveal patterns that a technology audit alone might not detect. For example, a business struggling with delayed sales reporting might believe the problem lies in their dashboards. But after speaking with key stakeholders, it becomes clear that the reporting delays are caused by an outdated approval process, not the tool itself. Fixing that process has a far greater impact than replacing the reporting system. Before making any changes, we test assumptions. Business process reviews, small-scale pilots, and data audits help identify the root cause before major investments are made. This reduces risk and ensures that changes address the real issue.
Why an Agile approach works
Traditional, top-down problem-solving assumes that fixing one area—data, technology, process, or people—will be enough. In reality, these elements influence each other in ways that are not always obvious. An inefficient workflow creates bad data. Poor training prevents teams from using technology effectively. A system that should improve efficiency ends up creating more complexity when processes are not adapted to support it.
This is why agile methodologies, such as the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), provide a more effective way to tackle complex business challenges. Unlike static project plans that aim to solve everything at once, an agile approach allows for continuous testing, refining, and adaptation. Deloitte research shows that organisations using agile frameworks are 60% more likely to achieve successful transformation outcomes. By working in short, focused cycles, businesses can quickly determine whether a challenge is truly a technology issue or if it is rooted in a process gap that the technology is exposing. Instead of committing to a large-scale system overhaul, a phased approach enables validation before committing significant resources. Through agile methods, Sirocco helps clients break down silos, ensuring technology, process, and people align. Instead of discovering months later that a change isn’t working, adjustments can be made in real time. This prevents wasted effort and allows businesses to focus on what will deliver real value.
The right solution starts with the right diagnosis
Misdiagnosing business challenges is expensive. Investing in new technology will not fix broken processes. More advanced data analytics will not help if teams do not trust or understand the insights. Fixing the wrong issue only leads to frustration and further inefficiencies. By taking a structured approach, businesses can determine whether they have a data, technology, process, or people problem and, more importantly, address it in the right way. If your systems, data, or processes are not delivering the results you expect, Sirocco can help you uncover the real issue and find the right solution. Let’s start a conversation:
Is it really a tech problem? Or is the real issue buried elsewhere? A CRM that isn’t delivering, unreliable sales forecasts, an automation project that fails to improve efficiency—these challenges often get misdiagnosed. Businesses blame the system, the data, or the process, but the underlying issue is frequently something else entirely. Misdiagnosing the problem leads to wasted investment and frustration. 70% of digital transformation initiatives fail to deliver the intended value—often because businesses focus on the wrong fix. At Sirocco, we help companies cut through the noise to pinpoint the real issue. Is it a data problem, a technology issue, a process gap, or a people challenge? Finding the right answer makes all the difference. Read our latest blog post to see how businesses can avoid common missteps and solve the real problem. #BusinessTransformation #Agile #DigitalStrategy #ProcessImprovement #DataDriven
