Begin with the end in mind. - Stephen Covey
Too often, in packaged software implementations, we readily equate software features with business results. We declare success when software goes into production. We assume (or hope) that the packaged software will drive the desired business results. What we sometimes fail to realize is that software is only one component of a holistic solution that drives business results.
Another slippery slope we deal with during the implementation is the division of labor in order to accomplish project activities. We divide work based upon specialization. This leads to project members having ownership for a piece of the work and limits the project team's ability to validate that the desired business results are achieved. This division of work will also result in additional effort required to organize, direct, and control the work.
The implementation of packaged software is only part of the greater effort of creating a new...