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While implementing a ERP software you can face the iron triangle of implementation where the scope, cost ,quality and resources start to fluctuate which you didn’t perceive earlier , variations in any of these parameters can lead rolling wave planning where the project manager has to revisit the 5 process groups of Project Management which are initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitor and Control and Project Closure.
Depending on the size of the ERP say for example if the ERP is for Small and medium sized companies or for large enterprises the iron triangle varies on the complexity of the ERP and the organizational process assets. One of the single most important characteristics of a first rate project manager is excellent communications skills which should be in written and oral form. The planning of the project is done using a ideal tool like MS Project starting from the initiation phase.
In ERP implementation projects you will face the iron triangle of if there is a sudden increase in the number of locations(sites) where the ERP has to be implemented and customized as per the clients requirement, due to resource attrition , developers properly trained on the programming language used to customize the ERP and requirements not mapped correctly to the ERP by the developers. In this cases a rolling wave plan concept(where the 5 process groups of project management which are initiation, planning, execution, monitor & control and project Closure ) has to be indigenously adopted and revisited by the implementation manager or the project manager to see to it that the triple constraints of the project are not severely affected by the fluctuations of these parameters for example if the quality of the ERP product developed is poor the project manager has to revisit the planning phase in that phase he has to construct his ideas based on quality management plan.
The author Suresh Menon is a subject matter expert on ERP and has worked in various capacities as project Manager, Implementation Manager, ERP Consultant and Test manager and can be contacted at sureshmenonr1009@gmail.com for comments and queries.
