|
|
SerCom
Solutions
4 . The Project
The Project Team
A cross function team was assembled under the guidance of a
strong project manager. The team comprised of leading members
of each department within Sercom. The brief was to develop a
set of functional requirements specific to the needs of their
own area. After the resulting document was circulated to four
leading ERP vendors and subsequent presentations discussed,
the team short-listed two products, each supplied by a different
consultancy.
After
much deliberation, the team selected SAP to be implemented by
a local Dublin based consulting group. Their decision was based
on functionality, with SAP being the only product to satisfy
the diverse warehousing requirements, and on the perceived abilities
of the consultants. The consultants were relatively new on the
scene with this project being their first implementation of
the whole suite of SAP modules. However, this relative inexperience
was outweighed by the consultants enthusiasm, commitment to
detail, and the knowledge that this project was as important
to them as it was to SerCom. SerCom felt the two companies were
'in it together'.
SerCom
also selected Web Methods (a leading B2B product) to connect
the SAP system to their web services. In addition, SerCom went
about selecting a web platform to roll out their e-fulfilment
services. This task proved more difficult than expected. The
company were looking for a robust platform that would integrate
tightly to their back end ERP product. (The level of integration
required would provide functionality such as displaying, in
real time, if stock was actually available when placing an order).
The
Internet was at the height of frenzy when SerCom looked for
its web product. A multitude of companies were offering a plethora
of products from low to high end and everything in between.
Finally, the company selected IBM's Websphere product as they
were shown an existing installation, at another company, which
demonstrated very similar functionality to that required by
SerCom. In addition, Websphere promised 'out of the box' integration
with SAP.
For
the implementation phase of the project, SerCom selected a team
representing all departments. Some team members took part in
the initial phase - building requirements documentation. Joining
the group were eight external consultants responsible for the
SAP implementation. Ensuring the project was not only delivered
on time, but a success, a steering committee oversaw the project.
Consisting of senior directors and board members, this committee
gave great sponsorship to the project immediately. Meeting once
a month with representatives from the internal team, any issues
went right to the top and were resolved immediately.
A
dedicated SAP room became the heart of the project. Each internal
team member and consultant moved for a seven-month period into
this new office. Their department roles were back filled within
the organisation and they dedicated their time to these new
roles.
A
change manager was also seconded to the team in order to disseminate
information about the project to the company and its customers.
Amongst her duties was the responsibility to manage training
and the change over to the new system.
|
|
