ERP Software
5 Reasons Implementations Fail —
And What You Can Do About It
Henry Struckel
Implementing a new ERP system is among one of the
most expensive and time consuming tasks a company
can take on. To ensure that the value of a new ERP
system is achieved, avoid these five common reasons
that ERP software implementations fail:
1. Lack of planning — unclear vision, goals and
approach.
2. Lack of resources dedicated to the project (staff
time, user involvement, project management).
3. Lack of executive support and commitment.
4. Fear of change.
5. Fear of technology.
Here are some tips on how to overcome these hurdles.
20
Establish an Effective Implementation Team
A deficit of staff, time, user involvement, project
management and IT support makes it hard to ever
get an implementation off the ground. While it is
understandable that there could be a shortage of
knowledgeable resources that can be dedicated
to the project, it is crucial to establish an effective
implementation team.
The leader of the team should be the project champion
– the overall project director who is skilled and
knowledgeable, is a respected leader and has a firm
belief in the importance of the project. You should also
appoint team representatives from each department
area. These project co-champions should have a
detailed understanding of their department’s day-to-day
activities.