ERP Implementation Manifesto

 We follow these principles:

1. An ERP implementation is the implementation of a business solution.

2. A business solution is composed of people, business processes, and technology.  People are the most important component of a business solution.

3. The implementation of a business solution requires multiple methodologies to be employed (project management, software development, organizational change management, business process management, quality management).  One methodology cannot effectively cover all the required disciplines.

4. Technology alone does not mature a business model.

5. Decisions – not documents – move implementations forward.

6. Our key objective is to assure customer success through early and continuous delivery of value-add business solutions.

7. Welcome differentiated business requirements, even late in the implementation cycle.  Rapid, iterative processes take advantage of change for the customer’s competitive advantage.

8. Competitive advantage only comes from revenue-generating business processes.

9. Customers must adapt their expectations of how software supports business to effectively leverage ERP.

10. Proactively eliminate non-value-add business requirements from the requirements management process.

11. Maximizing delivered “Out-Of-The-Box” ERP functionality is key to Return On Investment.  ERP makes for an expensive custom solution.

12. Knowledge transfer is the greatest value an implementation partner can provide to a customer.   A knowledge transfer process should be formally defined and measured.

13. Implementation partners should enable customers to lead during the implementation by employing a progressive leadership style.

14.  The only viable solution is a managable solution.

15.  Better to learn DURING the implementation rather than AFTER the implementation.

 These principles are derived from my book

Maximize Your Investment: 10 Key Strategies for Effective Packaged Software Implementations