R3Now.com – ERP, SAP, and IT Solutions for IT Decision Makers

ERP Project Planning – Getting Real (Part 1)

When the client is not heavily involved, expect plenty of project surprises and no ownership in the plan.  The ingredients for optimal success require active client participation at every stage of the project - from project planning to project closure. Anyone that has been around ERP long enough understands meaningful client involvement in the project is critical for success. However, it never ceases to amaze me how many implementation projects start with the software consultants behind close...

ERP Consultants: Is the Promise of Knowledge Transfer just part of the Sales Pitch?

Most ERP projects are filled with promises of software knowledge transfer from the consultants to the client. Yet once a project is over, in many cases, the client is clueless when it comes to making software configuration changes, and may even struggle with performing basic transactions in the system. So what gives? In spite of all the lip service given to knowledge transfer, the problem is there never was a real strategy to make it more than just a dream. Secondly, when push comes to shove ...

ERP Software: Are Modifications Always a Bad Idea?

Software modifications must be discouraged but sometimes they make perfect business sense. Remember, software exists to support the business, not the other way around. As an inexperienced project leader back in the 1980’s, I once informed an executive at a large aerospace manufacturer we were going vanilla with our enterprise software implementation. Absolutely NO software modifications or enhancements allowed I proclaimed! His response stayed with me and still rings true today... "Steve, ...