Question 3
What external factors (non-implementation project related) could affect how and when an ERP goes live? Explain and Justify.
Go-live is a very nervous time for many companies. All the hard work and planning finally becomes a reality. However, there are many internal and external factors that can delay an ERP go-live. External factors such as clients, suppliers and governments will not stop so that the company can change systems calmly. Consequently, if a government decides on new tax rates or new legislations which were not taken into account in the planning stages, will delay the go-live until these changes are implemented into the ERP system. These types of changes may only take a day or two. Available skilled consultants is also a major external factor, as if there is no expert ERP system support for go-live, it will delay go-live until a professional is available, this could be days or even weeks. However, most ERP software suppliers provide this support, but confirming these details does not hurt.
Another external factor which is inevitable is politics. What users read in the paper or hear in the media about the success or failure of the ERP software provider may mold their attitude towards the implementation and go-live. This can have a heavy impact on users, and it can take time for users to come around and see the benefits of their new system. As, if users are not grasping the concepts and procedures, users may have to be re-trained, which again could take days or even weeks. Most of these factors are hard to control, however it is best to plan for as much as possible to ensure a smooth and successful go-live.
References
Lozinsky, S. 1988, Enterprise-wide software solutions: integration strategies and practices, Addison-Wesley, Reading Massachusetts.
