Implementation of the ERP System by the Software Company, Coursework Example

In any project there are several steps that must be taken in which a plan must be fostered with initial steps being made to complete the project. When planning a project there are certain phases that must be mapped out in forming a solid plan. Deliverables is often tangible or intangible productions from which the project ultimately achieves in delivering to the external and internal customers. There are various objects that can be classified as deliverable differs from milestones and objectives, in regards to being specific to the characteristics of a project. Without deliverables, there are essentially no reason in which to do a project. More critically they are the products in which are used in completing the project. With any situation large or small, there are deliverables that showcase what is intended the intended outcome.

In the case described in part one of the assignment, the project plan is to hire a general contractor to pave a new driveway for my home, and to build a two-car garage that is used incongruent with the driveway. As a homeowner, a paved driveway is an advantageous addition that is a part of the overall finish of the home. In doing so, the homeowner must have trust in the contractor’s ability to get the job done in the budget and the timeframe discussed in the contract. In order to this there are several deliverables that must be made in order to get the job done right. The first deliverable will be to plan out the project accordingly. When do any project, especially to the home, there must be thorough plan made which outlines what needs to be done, what the homeowner wants to be done, and if the information can be clearly explain to the potential contractor. The second deliverable is to gather information about local qualified registered contractors that specialize in paving driveways. In doing so, information on their background, experience, and customer review will be used in coming a consensus on the right candidates to interview. This information is also when doing research with companies such as Angie’s List or Better Business Bureau (BBB) that provides customer reviews, and business review information on contractors and other businesses. Prepare an interview document in which addresses all the significant questions about their experience and backgrounds, as well as scenarios in which they would be completing their job. The interview document could be completed over the phone, or in person as they would help to make a more personal assessment of the potential contractor. When interviewing, another deliverable is to request and check out references, where if applicable can view pass work by visiting past work sites, and if possible interview homeowners on their experience with the contractor. When the right candidate is hired through a process of elimination and who is deemed the most experienced, and has good reviews, then a contract is drawn up that includes all the essential information that will needed for both the homeowner and the contractor.

The contract is a written piece of legal documentation that is valuable to diagram the important information such as budget, deadlines, what the contractor will need to do. Deliverables in contracts differs slightly than regular project deliverables while they carry the same connotations, the contract is a binding document that if breached can be used in a court of law. When hiring the contractor, a contract is an essential requirement that is a common approach where project deliverables will be described in regards to the results required in relation to the services requested.  The deliverables that will be written into the contractor once hired includes, introduction which provides a brief description of the scope of the project, it also identifies the effective management of the contract. Besides the obvious information from the contractor that includes their name, address, license number, and insurance company and account number. The next deliverable is the task description itself, in which encloses all the technical aspects of the project, the assumptions on the efforts made, and the possible constraints in regards to the project. This means in paving the driveway, and building the two-car garage, the contractor will lay out the specific details of what is needed to be done. Also available in the contract is the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) that provides an executable breakdown of all the work that needs to be done in the project which includes procuring the location, making measurements, gathering materials, and estimating the time and labor that will be required in completing the task. A task by task description and schedule, this will include the objective, assumptions/constraints, activities described in the WBS, the task manager, the deliverables schedule, and task dependencies. The deliverables includes the schedule of paving the driveway, and the timetable for building the two-car garage, that will require time in between as the driveway is cured and dried.

The next deliverable that will needed in the contract is the cost proposal with showcases the estimate from the contractor of the number of labor hours and costs that will be needed. The cost of labor will include the cost of materials such as lumber, concrete, and other tools. The contractor will provide a full list of costs and fees associated with projects in which, will be c(6) The payment terms are essential in outlining the month by month or a schedule of payment that includes the percentage that will be paid up front, and a percentage that will be paid on an average of three payments. When the concrete is poured, when the frame of the garage is built, and last when jobs are completed. Also, included in the contract is a holdback of 10% until the paperwork, and inspection is completed. (7) The contractor must present the paperwork for building plans and other necessary information to the compliance department, and obtain the required permits and inspections. (8) The contract will include a clause in which specifies the forms of arbitration, warranties on the tools and equipment used in the project, and the guarantee of the project clean up.

As in any project the first phase in which both the software company and the manufacturing company will make is planning. This instills defining the scope of the project, setting expectations, estimating costs, and developing timelines for the project. The software company once selected by the manufacturing company will assess the incumbent system. The software company will work congruently with the internal project manager and their team. This will help in defining the manufacturing goals for the implementation of the new system. This will also ensure that both parties are able to stay on the timeline, and in the budget. The project team will work with integration, testing, and training of the departments. The next stage that the software company will take is the integration process. By configuring the new system, they will have to parameterization the system, where each module is configured according to the business needs and the business processes. The next step the company, will make is to create bridges between the new ERP system and other systems throughout the organization, so that each system is able to effectively communicate with each other. This is essential in increasing productivity in the manufacturing company and also eliminating data entries that may have been duplicated to ensure the organization’s system data integrity.

After the software company is able to successfully integrate the system, both companies will test out the functions of the ERP system doing pilot tests of the widget production. This phase is usually the longest, and the software company will continuously work back and forth to make sure the ERP system is functioning properly. The next phase in the implementation is thorough testing, by working parallel with the old system, and doing the same functions on the new system. This is substantial in the company being able to get rid of bugs, clichés, or errors where the new system is significant in helping to save the company money and increase productivity. After the software company sets up the ERP system, the company will need to be provide user training, walkthrough phases so that it is able to ensure that the new system will work seemingly across the departments in the organization. The software company can aid the manufacturing company in running test pilots for the employees that will help to put the new ERP system in practice. The first test will be run smaller departments, and then will be a branch out to test in each department, once the system is fully integrated the companies will then test in parallel to production of the widgets. This will help in enhancing the employees’ skills and help run the system effectively. After all the initial training and thorough testing to pilot runs the manufacturing is able to go live with the newly implemented ERP system, and the software company is able to provide feedback in regards to any technical difficulties or problems that can arise.

In any approach the project manager must be able to define the scope that will help in establishing the timeline of the project, setting the goals of the project, and more importantly being able to allocate the resources for the project. The initial scope will help in defining the limits of the project, this includes what are excluded from each phase of the project. Critically the initial scope will detail the delivered products or features that will be in the first phase. What is involved in testing the limits includes no realizing the risks or making assumptions of what can’t be calculated. This includes not preparing for a rainy day, or someone gets hurt. This is initially known as scope creep where conniptions growing the project or when requirements are not and the deadline has passed. In the initial scope if the requirements are not clearly defined it can create a disorder in the timeline, budget, and the completion of the project. Other factors that are involved in pushing the limits includes not involving the users or the management in the early development of the project. This can create failures, and push the envelope on the amount of funds, depletion of resources, and other the lack of requirements. Limitations can range from poor project management, to weak support system by the executives and their sponsors.  The sponsor key is a substantial factor in pushing over to the red.

Depending on the type of project, scope documents are becoming an increasingly used document in projects that detail the deliverables and give the more description on the projects description. The scope document is essential in the overall element of the project. The scope document provides a scope statement that results in a binding document that lays out the goals and the objectives of the project. In seeing the value of the document, it provides the project with the description or characteristics of the services, results that are wanted to be produce. The scope document will help in defining the boundaries or limitations of the project initially, in order to begin. The scope document serves as an uncomplicated summary of information about the project. In looking at the factors of a scope document, one can ascertain the values, which includes outlining a goal, sponsor and project manager. The next value is by outlining the deliverables of the project. The scope document can reveal the critical success factors that the final deliverables will be successful due to these resources and understanding. The perimeters in which the project leader will be measuring performance, will be useful because it provides an incentive for team members. This also falls in line, as the value of creating a scope document also reveals the risks, constraints, assumptions, and exclusions that could be acknowledge at work or outside the parameters of their control.

The value in using the scope document is because it involves all users, and the products that are being used or made. The scope document will display the project charter, the owners, stakeholders, and sponsors. Other documents that are included in the scope document are the project requirements, and other pertinent documents that are used in assessing the tasks and purpose of the project, while also having a document which is able to outline and document the potential deliverables and activities in each phase.

A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is important to keep to the scope of every project. According to Kendrick’s explanation of the WBS is essentially the same as creating to-do list for the overall project. The WBS is created by a team of the project manager in order to get an input of multiple perspectives on the work that needs to be done. The WBS takes a hierarchical approach in creating the breakdown of pieces of the project so that it is better understood by officials. The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is able provide the people a framework that is necessary in detailing the costs of managing control of the schedule and other developments. Using a tree structure which more or less shows the start and end of the project, as the project has been able develop over time with an outlaid plan and contract with vendors and the employees on the project. In order to create a WBS that is comparable in preparing for deliverables.

In this case, the project that will be chosen to pick from is the second part. The manufacturer company that chooses to implement a new ERP system to replace tier own ones. The ERP system is a complicated matter that requires professional when implementing to a newer system. No doubt also, that companies must work together in order to ensure that the implementations goes smoothly for the company and for other users, such as the public. In choosing one of the deliverables, the integration deliverable, and the testing deliverable across the entire system in parallel with the old system.