Now, it is time to turn our attention to practices that we can employ in order to better ensure that the packaged software implementation project focuses on business results.
An undisputed implementation best practice is for the implementation team to take packaged software product training. I propose that another implementation best practice is for the implementation team to take training on the existing business processes that will be supported by the packaged software.
Understanding the business is the responsibility of every individual member on an implementation team. In fact, I would make it a prerequisite! Every individual project role will benefit from the training — including developers, software quality assurance, DBAs, data architects, implementation consultants, and especially project managers. Now, I am not saying that each individual needs to have the same business knowledge as the customer,...