The ideal projectmanager for your ERP-implementation

A project manager ideally possesses the following skills to guide an implementation project:

• A good leader
• Strong analytical skills
• Set and monitor clear deadlines
• Good at budget monitoring  
• A strong communicator  

Together with the project manager, you will go through the 5 essential steps to bring your ERP project to a successful conclusion:  

Step 1: Focus the scope

After conducting a business assessment, you will have a good idea of the functionalities your company needs. These needs must be further refined together with the IT partner and key users. On the one hand, the project manager has the task of ensuring that all required functionalities are included in detail. On the other hand, the project manager must also ensure that there is no uncontrolled expansion of the initial scope.  

Step 2: A project plan has at least four components:

• Deadlines: a good project manager sets deadlines that are achievable and in line with the implementation strategy. This is inseparable in consultation with the IT partner's project manager, but includes not only the IT partner's work, but also the work you as a company need to undertake. For example, we are thinking about the cleanup of master data.
• Determine the required time of each key user and make sure he or she gets this time:
  An implementation project is often an additional task on top of a full-time job. It is therefore important to quantify the time needed for the project and also free up this time in the key user's current time commitment.  
• Define tasks: The project plan should be a guide for the team. Thus, all tasks should be assigned to a responsible person.  
• Monitor budget: The project manager closely monitors the comparison between budget and actual costs and proactively communicates any expected budget overruns.  

Step 3: Status updates.  

The project manager is responsible for monitoring the status of the project and assigned tasks at regular intervals. This can be done through status meetings that the project manager can also use to motivate key users and capture their feedback or issues. Make sure that these meetings are productive and not organized "because they have to be.  

Step 4: Risk management

A project manager must identify risks within the project in a timely manner and define appropriate action for them.  

Step 5: Training and education

The responsibility for training and education of the ERP system lies primarily with the IT partner and key users. Training and education additionally includes change management. It is important for the project manager to create a culture where everyone feels comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. He or she does this primarily by communicating changes in processes, improvements, successes and areas of concern.  

So there are a lot of tasks that a project manager has to take on. In summary, this person is an important link in the transition from the current way of working to a future way of working. Therefore, finding your project manager with the right skills is an important fact for a successful ERP implementation.

Do you have questions about project management or are you interested in outsourcing your project management?