ACC IMPLEMENTATION: PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Step 2 of the ACC Software Solutions ERP Implementation Process: Project Management Meeting

Your team is prepping to dominate a massive ERP project and it’s like a domino effect — it’s great when it works, but a tragic disappointment if even a single piece is slightly out of place.

These projects can be both intimidating and exciting, and you might be tempted to start as soon as possible. Do you just cross your fingers and hope all goes well? Do you make a wish upon a shooting star? Toss a coin into a fountain? Now, that would be nice but, successful projects don’t just fall from the sky. The secret to success is an effective and efficient project management plan.

What is project management? Project management is the collaboration of processes, tools, team members, and skills to achieve precise project goals and objectives.

During the second step of your ERP implementation with ACC Software Solutions you’ll undergo a project management meeting. This meeting involves interaction between the partner and customer to establish an open door for communication and discuss potential issues / risks, planned goals, expected results, timeline, important milestones, and budget status.

Despite how anxious your team is to begin your ERP implementation, don’t take this step lightly. The goal of this kick-off meeting is to proactively clear up confusion and unite your team around a mutual goal.

You should be prepared for this project meeting, don’t wait until the last minute to finalize your project team or plan.

Your team should include some variety of the following people:

• Project manager: supervises the entire project and is responsible for the project’s success.
• Project sponsor: Senior manager who advocates for the project and works closely with the project manager.
• Team member: Actively work on the project tasks.
• Stakeholder: People who have an interest in the project. These can be broken into:

• • Primary stakeholders: People who actually do the work and are actively involved in the project.
  • Secondary stakeholders: People who might come to meetings and play a small part but aren’t key decision-makers in the project.

Once you’ve identified your project team, it’s time to put some elbow grease into creating your project plan. Remember, with a strong and detailed project plan, your implementation run as smooth as silk.

Begin by asking your project team the following questions:

• What is the goal of this project?
• What are the key performance indicators (KPIs)?
• What is the scope?
• What is the budget?
• What are the risks?
• What team members are involved?
• What tasks are involved?
• What milestones need to be met?

After you’ve complied your answers, create a SMART goal – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Now this goal isn’t going to happen by wishing upon that shooting star or tossing a coin into a fountain. This is where you create a plan of what actually needs to be done to obtain your goal. Some of these tasks may include: change management, training end-users, data cleaning, software testing, and post-implementation KPIs.

Now that your team knows what the project requires, it’s a lot easier for them to identify how much time it will take, the supplies they need, and the hierarchy or importance of tasks. And you’ve created your project plan. It should be documented and stored somewhere that the whole team has access to.

Remarkable projects come from remarkable plans.

You don’t need to stand outside all night waiting for a shooting star. Effective and efficient project management is key. With detailed planning, strategy, and monitoring, your team will be setup for great project success.

Make sure your team has everything they need to complete successful projects—including the right tools. ACC Software Solutions will help you plan, track, and manage your projects. Contact our support specialist to begin your ERP journey!