ERP implementation projects are big and complex, and therefore require diligent project management. A good project manager has to have good leadership and analytical skills, be able to set clear milestones and financial goals for the rest of the team, and be a great communicator. ERP implementation projects are big and complex, and therefore require diligent…
#1: Promising unfinished features Software companies are in constant development. Their existing products get upgraded and new ones are added to the mix. Many are therefore tempted to sell features that are not fully developed yet. This can happen during the sales process or early in the implementation process, and it introduces several issues. First…
ERP system implementation are costly and time consuming projects, and therefore should not be taken upon without planning and diligence. Unfortunately, many companies approach ERP implementations with a “shoot first, ask later” attitude, which results in failed projects that cost millions of dollars or, in worse case, bankruptcy. An ERP implementation seldom fails due to…
Lessons from Forrest Gump for Avoiding a Failed ERP Implementation In 1994, the lovable and surprisingly intelligent Forrest Gump gave us tidbits of life lessons in theatres around the country. The film was critically acclaimed, and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1994, with several other Oscar nominations. As much…
Many companies today employ contract specialists whose core job responsibility is to negotiate and maintain vendor and/or commercial contracts. Often, when an ERP project arises, the company decides to have the contract specialist negotiate the ERP software license and implementation contract. This can be a huge mistake. Having experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts is…
In an appearance before the Denver City Council’s Governance Committee in February of this year, Denver’s Chief Information Officer, Scott Cardenas, explained that the city of Denver would be paying additional license fees to Oracle as a result of breaching the scope of its license agreement. The cost to Denver’s tax payers: nearly $4 million.…
After coming to the decision to sue your software vendor, one of the first steps is to determine whether to use arbitration or litigation. Depending on a multitude of factors, there are both practical and strategic reasons to use one or the other. As a preliminary matter, the software vendor contract will sometimes contain…
If you are dealing with an ERP implementation train wreck, you generally have two options: (1) do everything you can to get the software vendor to live up to its contractual obligations and make the software work; or (2) cut your losses and file a lawsuit. Failed ERP implementation lawsuits are almost always expensive and…
In the most general sense, a manufacturing business is any business that procures or refines components and raw materials to create a finished good. The finished good can be made to furnish for consumers directly, other companies to use in its own business, or to other manufacturing businesses who may use the finished goods to…