project management

Project Management

We believe that a project is not fully successful unless the benefits that were defined in the business case are also realised.

Project Management Approach

Implementing a new ERP system in an established company is a complex task requiring significant commitment from all stakeholders, both internal and external. It is essential to manage the project well to ensure a smooth transition.

In the majority of cases, companies believe that software vendors will handle all aspects of the implementation and everything will go according to plan. The reality is vastly different. Often software vendors fail to:

accurately communicate what is required, from you, the customer, to ensure the project’s success,
spend enough time understanding the full extent of your requirements, including all your current business processes,
determine who will be affected by the implementation and whether they are on board with the changes that will result,
identify your main reasons for changing systems and whether your objectives are all met.

We partner with you the whole way through the implementation. We ensure the project is properly defined, planned and managed from beginning to end. As we guide you through the process, you will know exactly what your commitments are as well as those of the solution provider. We help you to know what to do and what not to do. We will highlight where the hidden costs are and how to watch out for these. This aids in keeping the project on track and on budget.

There is always resistance to change, so all the way through the implementation process, we help with change management. The key to a successful implementation is properly identifying all who will be affected by the changes implemented, directly or indirectly, and then we do what is necessary to obtain their buy in and commitment to the process. When everyone buys in to the process and understands what is needed to ensure the project’s success, the implementation project not only runs smoothly with the least disruption, but also reduces the chances of budget blowouts.

On completion we provide you with the tools to measure the effectiveness of the solution in place; including whether the objectives been met, what the key performance indicators (KPI’s) are and how these can be measured. This enables you are able to quantify the expected return on investment.

The following illustrates the managed, systematic approach we use when managing an implementation project:

Project Management Process

During each phase the various roles and responsibilities of all participants are determined. Clearly defined tasks and deadlines are outlined and agreed upon. The above activities are tailored according to each customer’s specific requirements.

Benefits of a managed, tailored implementation approach

There are a whole host of benefits to be derived from following the structured approach outlined above. To name a few:

The project is managed from beginning to end, by an experienced Project Manager with the distinct objective; to achieve project success within an agreed budget and time line
The success of the project can be measured against project objectives identified during the project definition workshop
Project risks are reduced by aligning the project objectives with management’s strategic intent
Critical needs are identified, documented and understood by all parties
The system implemented can be configured to best address these needs
The impact of changes to the business processes and internal systems can be better assessed and managed accordingly
Staff “Buy-in” can be better achieved and measured
Pilot Testing affords ample opportunity to map out business processes, thereby ensuring supporting documents and procedures are put in place ahead of the ‘go live’
The transition impact is drastically reduced, making the switch over easier and painless
The extensive experience of MKANZ consultants can be fully leveraged to achieve the best return on investment

Support & Training

Nothing can spell disaster when implementing a new solution, like in effective training does. All too often Solution providers will rush through staff training to reduce costs. They fail to realise how this not only increases long term support costs for the customer and themselves, but also jeopardises the success of the entire project.

If staff understand how to work properly with a system, fewer support issues arise, positivity to change is maintained and management are able to realise their objectives for implementing the new system in the first place.

Our in-depth knowledge of business processes, coupled with various Accounting and ERP solutions, means we can help identify where training is needed most. We assist the users to know how to use the system efficiently as well as why certain processes are necessary.

Furthermore, we can train users on all the Microsoft Office programs, like Word, Excel, Outlook, so they are better equipped to extract information from a system, compile it in reports and even run mail merge routines, to mass market or inform customers/suppliers.

Productivity is automatically improved when users acquire these necessary skills. Furthermore, management can get real-time decision making information that is both more accurate and interpretable.