Acknowledge your ERP implementation project leaders for their ability to manage multiple moving parts.
I’ve found that successful ERP implementation project leaders are unsung heroes as few executives could or should understand the 1000’s of moving parts and critical elements to achieving success. What are a few of these key elements?
- Start with a goal – What are you expecting your system to do? Hopefully not jumping jacks through rings of fire – outrageous? No. Because of the # of moving parts, it is a challenge to grasp; thus, it is incumbent on us to boil it down and gain clarity.
- Develop a roadmap – No point jumping into training and debates on how to set up key functionality if you haven’t developed a roadmap. How will you get from here to there? How will your processes change? What are the impacts?
- Think design – Design is a critical element when it comes to integrating the process and system into a sustainable solution going forward. Ask design experts for help as it requires someone who sees connections and down-the-line impacts most don’t.
- Focus on critical requirements – The critical requirements which have the most impact on your business from a systems perspective (what’s unique to your industry or business from a systems perspective or something which is a competitive differentiator) should gain the majority of your focus.
- Celebrate Your Project management Gurus – The rest is a continual planning, assessment, re-design, metric tracking and follow-up on the critical path timeline. Organization, follow-up, leadership skills are a must. Appreciate that these unsung qualities will make or break your success.