To establish how project management factors supported by the literature were used
in the organizations we studied, the respondents were asked to relate the importance of
each factor presented in TableVto the success of their ERP implementation. Once again,
cells with an “” reflect scores of 4 or higher.
The results show the clear importance of project management to the successful
implementation of ERP. Only two items, a formal management process to track and
monitor the ERP vendor activities and incentives/compensation given to
implementation team were not highly ranked as necessary project management tools.
The results show that various factors were used at the case companies. For example,
company E had a cross-function team whose members had the best knowledge to do the
job, and they were empowered to carry out the implementation of the project. Company
A indicated that all factors but one listed in Table V were used when the ERP was
implemented; the activities of the ERP vendor were not monitored by a formal process.
A formal management process for tracking ERP vendor progress was a common
element missing by all companies except company C. Company C also mentioned that all
factors but one in Table V were used; no incentives or compensation were given to the
ERP implementation team. In fact, no incentives or compensation were given to the
project management team for the work they did at five of the companies under study.
The team at companies D and E did not work full time on the implementation process.
However, the project management team was empowered tomakedecisions about the project
during the implementation by all companies except B. It appears that although the project
management team at company B worked full time on the project, members did not
communicate their activities effectively with their constituents. Equally enlightening,
Company B was the only company without a formal strategy for ERP acquisition and
implementation, and they also cited “interdepartmental communication” as one of their
critical success factors.