SerCom Solutions

8 . Lessons Learnt and Advice

SerCom give the following advise:

• In the initial phase of the project a team was put together to draw up a list of requirements and select a vendor. For implementation another team with some of the same members managed this phase. In hindsight the company feels they should have, in fact, kept the same team for both phases. This way there would have been a stronger sense of ownership for each component of the project with one person being responsible for ensuring successful roll out of the product they themselves had helped select.
  
• Draw up a comprehensive blue print and stick to it. The diligence given to detailed planning was paramount in the successful and timely roll out.
  
• Training 'superusers' from the implementation team was highly successful. Skills were kept in the team and training was delivered from staff who not only new the product, but also new the intricacies of their relevant departments.
  
• Get the best people from each department for the planning and implementation phase. This can be difficult because often managers are reluctant to give up their best people. You really need to have an individual with strong project management skills, in-depth knowledge of their department and good knowledge of IT. If the member of staff is not known to the project co-ordinator they should be vetted for this skill set.
  

9 . Future Plans

The project has been a success, but it is by no means over. The company see their ebusiness strategy as a continuing process. Every three months the team meets to discuss any new requirements and functional additions or changes to the system. From these meetings a list of new projects is assembled and the company sets about undertaking as many as possible. This continual assessment and change, keeps SerCom ahead of its competition and in a position to attract more business.