Working with literally hundreds of software implementations over the past 20 years or so, I’m often surprised at client’s request to reduce or remove project management as a line item in their overall project budget. At first glance, maybe it seems redundant (we know how to manage our people), a throw away (you’re just adding cost for no reason), or not really necessary to the success of the project (we can get by fine without it, thank you). Unfortunately, that approach often leads to failed implementations and lots of unhappy stakeholders.
We've all done it... made New Year's resolutions to do things like get more organized, go to the gym every night, or lose weight. All those major life changing things we want to do, but then discover throughout January that we just can’t manage to make time for accomplishing these goals.
ERP buyers today are smart. They do their homework, define their selection criteria, compare systems, and do research on their selected business partner. Surprisingly though, determining ERP project success criteria is often overlooked even by the most diligent firms.
New Years time is a classic period for personal introspection. Many personal resolutions come out this process, but is it appropriate for a business to go through the same process? Absolutely.
