Selecting a project team for your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is all too often done on the basis of job role, rather than who is best for the project. What actually makes a good ERP team player? In my opinion there are four requirements: competency, skill, knowledge, and position – in that order.

Competency

I believe that every ERP project team member needs seven core competencies: negotiation, communication, innovation, logic, thoroughness, organization, and the ability to influence others.

Most managers can’t afford to dedicate resources to their ERP projects, therefore project team members must be able to negotiate effectively with line managers, to ensure enough time is given to the project. ERP solutions also require compromises – processes in one department impact on others, and have to be streamlined collaboratively. A manual step here may facilitate automation elsewhere. All of this requires the ability to negotiate, and to ensure success through stakeholder commitment.

Project teams have to be able to communicate well, explain new concepts, report back on issues, and talk about solutions. Communication is the key to good change management. Logical and creative thinking provides the ability to extrapolate learning and experience to design new processes innovatively, yet in a systematic and logical way. Though difficult to find, these attributes can really unlock the value of your ERP system.

An ERP project team member must also be able to influence others. Everyone, from senior stakeholders, to end users must be convinced that the proposed solution is the right one for the business.

Finally, they must be thorough and organized. With the help of checklists, every module must be explored and tested, and every angle considered, so as to ensure that no processes have been overlooked.

Skills

Team members must have some general knowledge of systems and IT. It isn’t essential that they have experience of the particular system you are implementing. Prior knowledge of the system often inhibits innovative thinking.

It is important that team members know how to test assumptions and processes to ensure they contribute as intended. This can easily be taught, provided they have a meticulous and logical mindset. Sound presentation skills will help them get the message across, and can be complemented by the selection of the right support material e.g. graphics. Effective training skills are required to transfer skills to end-users, and these do not have to be the project team members themselves. Trainers need have patience, follow strict processes, explain concepts clearly and simply, and must be willing to deliver the same material repeatedly, and consistently. The better the trainer, the more skilled the end users – therefore the more value you derive from your ERP system.