Taking on the Data Center

Tierney stresses that communication early in the process is crucial. Everyone must feel he or she is part of the decision so there will be no resentment.

"Managers can't make it happen. They need people to make it happen," he says.

Since the offset and electronic cultures were so different, Allstate organized employee social events, team meetings and management get-togethers to get people comfortable with each other. Lots of training was needed, too, so people of different backgrounds could get up to speed on the new equipment.