ERP Readiness and System Selection

ERP projects provide a unique opportunity to improve business process, modernize operations, and transform government. However, ERP projects are also difficult and many organizations struggle with the challenges of new technology, organizational change, and project governance. This course focuses on the essential skills for leading an ERP project and addresses mitigation strategies for common risks that all governments will face. During the course, students will participate in lectures and small group exercises to build their understanding of project planning, business process analysis, systems procurement, and implementation readiness. Through this course, students will focus on the importance of project governance and project management, setting clear goals and identifying business process improvements, developing outcomes focused requirements, clarifying scope, and identifying project challenges and risks. In addition, the course will provide best practices and lessons learned on ERP system procurement including how to build an RFP, set evaluation criteria, facilitate the selection team, and negotiate a contract.

NOTE: This class is only available for employees of state and local governments. ERP vendors, consultants, and other private sector representatives are not eligible.

Those who successfully complete this seminar should be able to:

• Understand the current market for administrative and enterprise information technology systems
• Understand how to identify opportunities for change and lead business process improvement initiatives
• Develop functional requirements that define outcomes for the project that can be used for quality control and overall system testing
• Understand how to develop a request for proposals specific to the ERP market
• Identify modern approaches to evaluating software and service providers.
• Learn the skills to negotiate fair contracts, develop a statement of work, and minimize the risks to a government that are inherent to system replacement projects

This course is taught by GFOA staff from the Research and Consulting Center. Each instructors has experience working with different types of organizations and brings lessons learned, practical examples, and templates/tools from GFOA's experience assisting hundreds of other local governments with ERP readiness, system selection, and implantation. Past instructors have included:

• Mike Mucha, Deputy Executive Director, GFOA
• Barry McMeekin, Consulting Practice Manager, GFOA