Agile Project Management Methods for ERP: How to Apply Agile Processes to Complex COTS Projects and Live to Tell about It

Abstract

Abstract:The selection, procurement, and deployment of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is fraught with risk in exchange for significant business and financial rewards [26]. In many cases the packaged ERP product does not provide the entire solution for the business process. These gaps can be closed with third party products or by customizing existing products. Management of this customization, as well as the selection of the core ERP system has traditionally been addressed through high-ceremony, science-based, project management methods [13]. Well-publicized failures using this approach creates the need for new methods for managing ERP projects [11]. This compendium paper describes an alternative to the traditional high-ceremony IT projects management methods. Although many of the methods described are not new assembling them into a single location and focusing on a single issue provides the tools to make decisions in the presence of uncertainty, focus on the critical success factors, and address the managerial and human side of project management Agility allows the project management methods as well as the system to be adaptively tailored to the business needs.

A Modified Agile Methodology for an ERP Academic Project Development

“…It's known, and literature shows, that the use of high-ceremony, science-based, project management methods have given rise to failure in ERP projects (Alleman, 2002). Experience has shown to some development teams that traditional development methods are not always adequate nowadays: they need to refine their development process for getting new features to market quicker, to get customer feedback earlier in the process, to test early in the developing process to avoid large re-work efforts before deployment, etc.…”

“…About the change, many times it isn't a problem but a competitive chance that has to be faced for getting advantage (Alleman, 2002). All these problems get worse in ERP projects: these are people-centred projects which rely heavily on change management for success facing constant change and reassessment of organizational processes and technology (Alleman, 2002) (Kee-Young, 2006).…”

“…About the change, many times it isn't a problem but a competitive chance that has to be faced for getting advantage (Alleman, 2002). All these problems get worse in ERP projects: these are people-centred projects which rely heavily on change management for success facing constant change and reassessment of organizational processes and technology (Alleman, 2002) (Kee-Young, 2006). Attending to the ERP projects characteristics (Alleman, 2002), Agile Methodologies fit better in their needs for many reasons, principally because they emphasize rapid and flexible adaptation to changes in the process, product and business, and deployment environment.…”

“…All these problems get worse in ERP projects: these are people-centred projects which rely heavily on change management for success facing constant change and reassessment of organizational processes and technology (Alleman, 2002) (Kee-Young, 2006). Attending to the ERP projects characteristics (Alleman, 2002), Agile Methodologies fit better in their needs for many reasons, principally because they emphasize rapid and flexible adaptation to changes in the process, product and business, and deployment environment. Recent studies show that IS utilization behavior is significantly affected by beliefs about the system's usefulness and ease of use (Kee-Young, 2006).…”

“…In fact, customers in agile methodologies (AM) should be committed, knowledgeable, collaborative, representative, and empowered (Coram & Bohner, 2005). Because requirements of ERP project evolve over time, the stakeholders understanding of them evolve as well, changing their point of view and consequently changing the goals and success criteria of the project (Alleman, 2002). Agile Methodologies embrace this change, turning it into competitive advantage.…”