What The Three Leading Technology Implementation Frameworks Teach Us Today
What if the hardest part of technology implementation isn’t the technology itself but how we track its value? I think it’s time to explore another framework! And this one is really quite different from the two we’ve discussed before…
Deloitte’s Digital Transformation Value Framework
What I like about this framework is that it gives you the tools needed in order to measure impact. In fact, given the name, Deloitte’s framework is centred around value. It is a practical, structured approach for tracking transformation efforts in a meaningful, multidimensional way. And so, rather than defaulting to traditional measures like ROI or productivity alone, the framework introduces a broader lens.
It groups 46 key performance indicators (KPIs) into five distinct value categories:
Financial
Customer
Process
Workforce
Purpose
Thus, the message is clear. Value isn’t one-dimensional, and our measurement methods shouldn’t be either.
What sets this framework apart is its emphasis on balance. Deloitte found that many organisations tend to cluster around the same handful of KPIs, leaving others underused. In contrast, those that take a more well-rounded approach, applying both common and less obvious indicators, report significantly better outcomes. These high-performing organisations were found to be 20% more likely to attribute a meaningful share of enterprise value to their digital investments.
A Different Kind of Framework
So, unlike other models, Deloitte’s framework doesn’t lay out a step-by-step path or tell you where to begin. Instead, it helps organisations reflect on where value is actually emerging. Think of it as a measurement tool rather than a blueprint, offering a structured way to assess whether your digital investments are paying off.
This makes it fundamentally different from implementation-focused frameworks like McKinsey’s Stairway or Jeanne Ross’s Building Blocks. While those models provide guidance on how to implement technology, Deloitte’s framework helps you measure the impact of what you’ve done.
Different Ways to ‘do’ Technology
Deloitte’s framework is powerful because it answers the question that keeps many leaders up at night: How do we prove the value of what we’ve done? But, as you’ll know from articles past, it’s not the only approach shaping tech implementation. There are also, of course, the other two respected models we’ve so far discussed, McKinsey’s and Ross’s.
Here’s how they compare…
Where they start:
Deloitte starts with value. It builds a case for technology implementation by identifying and measuring outcomes across its five dimensions: Financial, Customer, Process, Workforce, and Purpose.
McKinsey begins with people, prioritising mindset shifts, agile working, and distributed decision-making.
Ross begins with structure, focusing on the operational backbone, so systems and processes that support business as usual.
Their take on autonomy:
Deloitte links autonomy to value ownership, encouraging organisations to look across silos and departments to identify where value is being created or missed.
McKinsey promotes small, empowered agile teams that can learn fast.
Ross zooms out to organisational design, encouraging long-term ownership of digital components across the enterprise.
The role of technology:
Deloitte treats technology as an enabler, acknowledging it’s importance, but only valuable when clearly tied to measurable outcomes.
McKinsey delays technology investment until culture and working practices are in place.
Ross introduces technology earlier, but only after operational stability is achieved.
So while the emphasis may differ, each framework adds value in its own way. Together, they contribute to a bigger picture.
What Can be Learned
Each of the frameworks explored, Deloitte, McKinsey, and Ross, certainly offer distinct angles on this thing often called ‘transformation’. Implementing technology, according to each of the frameworks, requires different priorities and points of entry and what emerges from comparing them isn’t a question of right or wrong, but rather a richer understanding of the complexity of change. Naturally, success will always draw on more than a single way of doing. It involves aligning people, processes, structures, and value in ways that are coherent and measurable.
From Deloitte’s framework, our key point of discussion in this article, there are several key lessons that stand out:
Measurement matters more than ever: Many organisations say they value digital transformation but can’t quantify its impact. Deloitte’s 46-KPI framework gives leaders a way to see what’s truly working across financial, operational, and cultural dimensions.
Avoid over-indexing on familiar metrics: Productivity and cost metrics dominate. Deloitte’s findings show that leaders who consider underused KPIs, like workforce engagement or purpose alignment, are more likely to attribute significant enterprise value to their digital efforts.
You don’t need perfect clarity to begin: While 73% of leaders say they struggle to define exact digital metrics, Deloitte’s research shows this challenge is solvable with a more holistic mindset.
Reframing value is itself a cultural shift: Just as McKinsey and Ross highlight shifts in culture and capability, Deloitte adds that value thinking must evolve. Measuring the right things changes how organisations see their progress. It’s a powerful thing.
So I suppose, in short, Deloitte’s approach doesn’t replace other technology implementation models so much as it complements them. When paired with frameworks that focus on readiness and structure, it provides the missing link: a way to show what ‘transformation’ is, and why it’s worth doing right.
If you’d like to discuss your technology implementation efforts with someone who’s been there, got the experience, and knows how to support you, get in touch: https://www.buondrius.com/contact
And don’t forget to check out my other framework articles:
McKinsey’s Stairway - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-digitise-mckinseys-stairway-digital-excellence-other-scandella-zqbie/?trackingId=odnqnlwNSqyd%2Fya9DUjUvQ%3D%3D
Jeanne Ross’s Five Building Blocks - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-building-blocks-staircase-comparing-paths-tech-sven-scandella-8xrve/?trackingId=odnqnlwNSqyd%2Fya9DUjUvQ%3D%3D