11:46 AM
ERP will not be successfully implemented unless the following Critical Success Factors are achieved:
Knowledgeable, Decisive Leadership – Without trusted and empowered leadership, progress will be slow and benefits achieved will be marginal at best.
Appropriate Governance –The governance structure should be established such that it is characterized by a clear mission, defined scope, appropriate stakeholders, and commonly embraced values. An important aspect of the governance structure is the requirement that the business needs drive the deployment of the Company ERP with the support of key partners such as IT and user support services (such as training and communication).
Shared Vision – If the company leadership collectively agrees to a shared vision for the company ERP and how it can best support the mission of the Company, all aspects of the deployment of the Company ERP will be made easier. The vision should be clearly communicated to ensure that while the ultimate vision for the project is shared and known, it is also clear that the deployment of the first phases of ERP will not achieve the ultimate vision of the project but that subsequent phases will be undertaken to achieve this vision over the course of several years.
Environment – By fostering an environment that is characterized by teamwork and collaboration, success will be easier to achieve. Improved support, training, documentation, communication, user involvement, business process transparency and support for lifelong learning will help create an environment to attain the maximum success possible.
People – To achieve the strategies in this plan, the most talented staff will be required to be committed to these efforts for many years. A commitment to the people resources required for each phase should be achieved prior to each phase beginning.
Adequate Funding –Additional resources and a realignment of current resources will also be required with plans and methods to harvest the expected return on this investment. A commitment to the funding required for each phase should be achieved prior to each phase beginning and be appropriately allocated to each member institution benefiting from the administrative system.
Time – Regardless of the financial and human resources provided, a significant amount of time will also need to be invested. Wisely balancing the need to complete and implement solutions in a timely manner with the risk of a poor implementation or a poor solution is critical. A detailed project plan that is developed prior to each phase beginning as well as following an iterative development methodology will assist in the project being on time.
Technical Infrastructure – Maintenance and deployment of administrative software cannot succeed without stable, dependable, high-performing, scalable and secure technical infrastructure.
Assessment – Responsible stewardship demands periodic assessment to determine if the chosen course continues to be the best course of action given changes in industry, product availability and success of the Company ERP. The definition of success should be defined before the project is started and should be measurable.