Mastering ERP Project Management: Required Skills and Responsibilities of the Project Manager

Bulbul Ahmed

In the dynamic landscape of modern business, successful ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) implementation stands as a pivotal achievement. Yet, the journey towards ERP integration is riddled with complexities and challenges. This article explores the indispensable role of a strategic leader in navigating these waters, delineating the must-have skills, desirable competencies, and pivotal responsibilities requisite for seamless ERP integration.

Defining the Profile of an ERP Project Manager

Who Should Lead?

The individual should be someone capable of developing new foundational skills.
He or she must have the ability to work with all managers and navigate departmental silos.
This person reports directly to the CEO.

Must-Have Skills

Leadership abilities: Essential for steering teams toward unified goals.
Trustworthiness: Building trust across all organizational levels fosters collaboration.
Record of successful improvement projects: Demonstrates competence.
Grasp of Business, People, Culture: Critical for holistic understanding.
Effective communication: Ability to present complex ideas clearly.
Conflict resolution and change management: Vital for navigating transitions.
Technological fluency: Comfort with technology is essential.

Desirable Skills

Experience of implementing any software package: Provides insight into implementation processes.
Ability to dive into project details when necessary: Ensures thorough understanding.
Viewing the organization as a set of business processes: Enhances strategic planning.
Resilience and adaptability: Key for handling dynamic situations.
Quick learner: Facilitates adaptation to new concepts.
Extensive knowledge of department processes: Enables effective decision-making.
Analytical thinking: Critical for problem-solving.
Managing vendors and consultants: Ensures smooth collaboration and delivery.

Plus Skills

Project management experience with the selected ERP package: Provides specialized expertise.
Application consulting experience with the selected ERP package: Enhances understanding of system functionalities.
Strong business analysis skills: Essential for aligning ERP with business needs.
Project management certification: Demonstrates proficiency in project management.

Diving into Responsibilities: The Crucial Mandates of an ERP Project Manager

Scope Management and Budget Oversight

Actively managing project scope to align with organizational objectives.
Avoiding scope creep to maintain project focus.
Risk assessment and mitigation strategies to address potential issues.
Making budgets for each ERP implementation phase.
Tracking all expenses with supporting documents.

Planning and Resource Allocation

Determining project scope and timeline.
Allocating resources and assigning responsibilities.
Identifying all possible business scenarios and planning accordingly.
Identifying all customization/configuration requirements and assigning resources.
Defining hardware, network, application, and database requirements.
Preparing training plans with required contents and schedules.
Preparing system testing plans with test cases.
Preparing data conversion and migration plans.
Identifying and planning for all software development tasks as well as user requests.

Leadership and Oversight

Leading both Business Analysts and software programmers.
Coordinating and synchronizing Business Analysis and Software Development tasks.
Creating weekly task lists for all teams in the ERP department.
Following up on project progress and motivating the team.
Managing external consultants and software vendors.
Developing ERP implementation strategies.
Maintaining documentation of process design and system design.
Managing all applications and databases.

Self-Responsibilities

Evaluating and deciding changes in ERP systems to meet organizational needs.
Approving system blueprints, interface designs, and customization designs.
Providing the best-fit technology solution for business needs.
Training the team on software knowledge as well as business processes.
Preparing Statements of Work (SOWs) for training from external consultants.
Helping the team to collect business requirements through various methods.
Working with functional managers to implement process improvements.
Analyzing and evaluating information collected from multiple sources.

Reporting

Working with the steering committee and top management to set responsibilities for system usage.
Providing up-to-date project status reports to the steering committee and top management.
Identifying and managing project-related issues/risks and notifying top management if required.
Planning and conducting Executive Steering Team meetings.

Quality Assurance and Control

Ensuring that the business requirements are met in the system and accepted by users.
Ensuring that the project is delivered on time and within the budget.
Ensuring that all functional departments understand their responsibilities and system functionality.
Ensuring that the external consultant has delivered all requirements.
Ensuring that training is received properly by the users.
Ensuring that the system is well-tested.
Ensuring that all hardware/software are in place and working together.
Ensuring that all system connections are working and in proper synchronization.
Ensuring that software licenses are up-to-date and working.
Ensuring that all systems function as per expectation.

Monitoring

Monitoring system performance and user performance.
Taking improvement actions after project launch if necessary.

Conclusion

In the realm of ERP implementation, a strategic leader is indispensable. With the required skills, commitment to excellence, and a strategic vision, these leaders navigate complexities, heralding an era of organizational efficiency and innovation.