Nowhere is the adage "You get what you ask for" more fitting than in an SAP project. Whether it is a new implementation, an upgrade, the continuation of a rollout, or an extension of your existing SAP footprint, the value you derive hinges upon making sure your project plan is based on a solid business case and having the absolute right team and right leadership to drive that plan forward. Do these things right, and good results follow — swift
ROI, happy and productive end users, low-cost
operations, and the all-important ability
to quickly respond to continuous business change.
Set the wrong project scope, skimp on areas
like end-user training, or try to drive the
initiative with the wrong team, and you saddle
yourself with expensive rework, friction
with end users, missed opportunities to tap
into beneficial functionality, and untold downstream
expense and headaches.
Of course, every savvy manager knows that developing good specs or assembling an all-star project team is easier said than done. These are not trivial tasks. You need extensive experience on the business, technology, and project management fronts. Along with the right experience, you need a well-honed methodology for the project. Clear change management plans, both before and after going live, are critical, too.