NPCC - Students First Initiative

The Students First Initiative

Best Practices

Here is an eclectic selection of external sources and internal documents. This information will cover the entire spectrum of the ERP process; from pre-implementation through the implementation process itself, to Go-Live and beyond.

It is our intention to keep adding content to this page ~ your comments and suggestions are welcome: Please contact us at studentsfirst_info@npcc.edu

Note: Please remember much of the information presented is subjective in nature.

Here is an excellent PowerPoint presentation from McGill University; discussing (from the author’s point-of-view) their ERP implementation ‘success’ and their Lessons Learned (what they refer to as their ‘Best Practices’). We recommend you download this file: www.educause.edu/ir/library/powerpoint/EDU03146.pps

This link takes you to a UK consulting firm’s web page where they discuss some of the basic principals re the do’s & dont's (as well as some Best Practices) of implementing an ERP system.

Here is a brief excerpt (the first bullet is very true):

Project Management

The project needs an executive champion. It is not an IT project.
The project needs managing with proper ownership of tasks, planning and control.
Not all data is dynamic but some is. In a staged implementation process this needs to be taken into account.
Parallel running the new and old system with dynamic data is extremely difficult.
Parallel running reveals as many problems in the old system as in the new system.
Software problems are a useful excuse for project delays, but they are rarely on the critical path of delivering business benefit.

Here is the link: http://www.smthacker.co.uk/implementing_ERP_computer_systems.htm

Please click here to view an AT&T Best Practices paper on Business Continuity -- it describes ways to ensure your software and your organization will keep running when the unexpected occurs (i.e., natural or man-made disaster)."

External Resources

Click here to view on article on " Higher Education ERP: Lessons Learned".