Biggest Challenges Faced By An ERP Project Manager At Cemstone Products Company
Thomas, an ERP Project Manager, identifies change management as the biggest challenge in his role, citing the difficulty of transitioning employees who have "been doing the same exact thing...for over 20 years" to new systems. Successfully navigating this requires taking time to understand their processes to facilitate a smooth transition, though Thomas acknowledges that this is "easier said than done."
Project Management, Change Management, Teamwork, Communication, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Thomas Becken
ERP Project Manager
Cemstone Products Company
St. Olaf College, 2015
UCLA Anderson MBA
Economics
Architecture, Construction & Design
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Dealing with resistance to change during ERP implementations is a major challenge. Successfully navigating this requires strong change management skills and a deep understanding of the users' processes.
2. Building rapport and trust with long-term employees resistant to new systems is crucial for a smooth transition. Empathy and effective communication are essential.
3. Understanding existing processes and workflows before implementing new ERP systems is key to a successful project. It's about making the transition as seamless as possible for the users, even if the new system offers improvements.
Transcript
What's your biggest challenge in your role?
This one's an easy one for me. As a project manager, change management is such a tough part of any project.
I was working with people who had been using the same software for over 20 years. You come in and say, "We're tearing that all down and replacing it." It's really tough to get people on board, even if what you're doing is faster, easier, or has more reporting options.
So, it's important to take the time to understand them and their process. Hopefully, that helps make the transition as smooth as possible, but that's easier said than done sometimes.