Your Software Upgrade Project will be a Success
Anytime your company embarks on the task of upgrading existing software, something will inevitably throw the project off its intended goals. A McKinsey & Company study* found on average, large IT projects run 45 percent over budget and 7 percent over time, while delivering 56 percent less value than predicted. Fortunately, success can be defined, measured and achieved.
Here are the top ten reasons your software project will be a success from inception to completion.
1. User Involvement
From the onset, the relationship between the implementation team and your company should be a partnership. You want to be involved and also know the needs of your employees who will be using the upgraded system.
2. Executive Management Support
Management should be able to provide much more than funding the project. They should be fully engaged and willing to guide the project. Having leadership heavily involved in the project will ensure that budget will be reworked if need be, project managers will be assisted through project hurdles and the project will get the necessary attention in the rest of the company.
3. Clear Statement of Requirements
This may seem like the most obvious, but these clear goals will give your project a 13 percent boost in overall success or failure. All users will need to compile and define user functions. You will need to express your customization and flexibility requirements. Do you need to standardize human resource information or integrate financial information?
4.Proper Planning
Reactive “planning” isn’t really planning at all. Tried and true works only so long in the tech world. It is better to recognize your company needs, research and determine the best solutions for your customers and employees and prioritize which upgrades will best help your company
5. Realistic Expectations
This project will probably take time. The average implementation takes about 300 to 450 hours of consulting time spanning 3 to 6 months. Your company will need to be upfront about the nature of your goals and uses for the software and your consulting team will be able to best direct and ensure the project stays on course.
6. Smaller Project Milestones
Some projects get bogged down if broken into smaller components. However, setting smaller milestones in a large implementation project will ensure that if changes need to be made, they will be made quickly.
7. Competent Staff
How IT and tech savvy is your staff? Not a problem if they are not tech gurus, as long as they are experts in their fields and willing to learn, they should have no problem adjusting to a new system.
8. Ownership
Your project will require agility and industry insights. Internally, you will need a solid project manager who will be the best point of contact for all types of communication and can manage project conundrums that will inevitably arise.
9. Clear Vision and Objectives
Not only will you need a clear vision for the overall project, but you will also need to know what to expect from say an ERP system or if a Supply Chain Management software is better for your needs. Then it is also imperative to set your measurable goals and objectives for how the software will over the duration of use improve efficiencies and safe your company money.
10. Hard-working, Focused Staff
Every company sets out to surround themselves with talented and dedicated employees. They will make your company a success and will help provide the necessary skills for a successful software upgrade project.
Your Take:
What have you learned keeps your IT projects on track the most? Share your project successes by adding your comments in the section below. Learn more about Datix ERP consulting services.
*Research on projects failure rates
