Handling Problems with an ERP Core Team

8/26/2010 at 4:08 pm by The Sage ERP Team

Many businesses that choose to implement an ERP system also decide to elect and train a core project team to help manage the ups and downs of the process. Usually, this is a great idea – it takes some of the stress off of employees dealing with the change and provides a go-to group of people to whom confused employees can turn. We recently wrote about how to select and train such a team using a series of workshops.

But while a core team is usually a major asset, sometimes it can also prove to be a bit of liability. Some core teams might realize they’ve bitten off a little more than they can chew, especially if their training hasn’t been quite adequate.

ERP core teams might get antsy when they realize just how much time they’ve committed to the ERP project. They may get testy when they release the sheer amount of guidance and help they’re expected to provide while working on the implementation. In addition, any team can sometimes experience a little bit of in-fighting, competition and frustration between its members – which can be a major productivity drain.

There are, however, some things that you can do to help ensure the success of an ERP team. These critical success factors include encouraging the team members to be honest and accountable, to exercise their leadership capabilities and to compromise with one another.

Here’s how you can support your team in its efforts:

Practice what you preach. If you’re talking about how important ERP is to the company, be sure you make it a priority. If the core team doesn’t see you devoting much time to the implementation, they won’t think they need to, either. Set a good example and your ERP team will follow. This also includes being considerate, accepting compromise, dealing with any setbacks in the progress of the implementation and being patient with the system.
Offer positive reinforcement. Everybody likes to be thanked. Make sure your core team understands how valuable they are and how much they are helping in the ERP implementation process. Don’t be afraid to support the team in public, as well. That way, the rest of the company will know to be gracious towards the team, too.
Hold team members accountable. Make sure each member pulls his or her weight – this will reduce friction between team members who may feel that the team isn’t equal. Offer individual rewards to the team members who are the most valuable, and if any member seems uninterested or abrasive, don’t be afraid to take him or her aside and have a few words about being responsible.

If you manage your ERP core team correctly, it can become an invaluable asset to your implementation process.