ERPs: Beyond and Above 'Moderately Successful' Pro-Active Progressive Value Realisation

The success of ERPs installations (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a strongly debated subject. The average outcome of ERP projects seems to be “moderately successful�?. This leaves room for improvement. The question is: how do the companies organise the improvement and evolution of their ERP in the most efficient manner? For most organisations, another big installation project is out of question and the ticket-based approach is designed to deliver repairs, not improvements. Combining a review of articles published on the subject and practical lessons learned on numerous projects, the author proposes a third, novel, way: The pro-Active progressive value realisation (P2VR). P2VR solution design relies on a mix of training, IT system, business process and organizational changes. It leverages the system understanding of business people to identify optimal trade-offs as well as opportunities. It takes advantage from the fact that ERP can be modified with literally a few clicks. P2VR explicitly trades time for money, using a small team of experts and decision makers. P2VR projects follow a “climbing route�? to deliver, from the onset, a permanent, structured, stream of improvements. The steady flow of good news enhances the standing of the IT function within the company. The specific advantages of the P2VR can be seen on both the input and output side. It lowers external costs as well as optimizes use of internal resources. It creates a constant stream of benefits that improves the ROI and enhances the reputation of the IT department.