Steve Griffis
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL
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With Steve Griffis as your ERP project manager, you can mitigate project risk by selecting a stong, full-time experienced ERP project manager.
DRIVER OPPORTUNITY VALUE PROPOSITION
Mitigate Project Risk
ERP projects are one of the most difficult tasks for IT to undertake. A quarter of ERP implementations fail, half are considered challenged, and 50% to 80% of ERP implementations exceed time and budget by 25% to 190%.
You can mitigate one key risk to your project by selecting a strong, full-time experienced ERP project manager who has successfully managed a number of ERP projects of the same size or complexity.
Your ERP project manager delivers - with significant business value - on time, on budget, to scope, and with quality.
Learn more...
Find the "Perfect" PM
Strong ERP project management experience, product-specific knowledge and nuance, company and industry experience can rarely be found in one person.
Build a well-rounded project management team, led by a strong ERP project manager, along with product experts and team members with industry and company experience.
This approach incorporates ERP best practices to deliver strong project management solutions and greater cost savings while mitigating client risk.
Flexible Engagement Options
In the new economy, companies want the flexibility of a variable cost model for projects.
Choose from several engagement options, including direct contracting and traditional staffing.
Choose the engagement option that works best for your company, and get maximum value for your project management budget.
Mitigate ERP Project Risk
Appointing a strong full-time project manager who has successfully managed a number of ERP projects of the same size or complexity can significantly reduce your project risk.
Start with Strong ERP Project Management Experience, not just IT PM Experience
Gartner Research's landmark report, How to Avoid the Top Three ERP Implementation Mistakes, focuses on strong project management. “Companies often fail to provide the fundamental element of strong, structured, full-time, in-house project management during ERP upgrades,” says the report. “ ERP projects require a strong, full-time experienced project manager who has successfully managed a number of ERP projects of the same size or complexity.”
Successful IT project managers do not necessarily ensure a winning ERP implementation
According to the Gartner study, ERP experience is key. While IT project managers without ERP experience may have good knowledge of the company or industry, a proven track record of delivering ERP projects of the same size and complexity is a key qualifier. “
A project manager who has not managed or been a senior team leader on a number of similar ERP projects will be unaware of the technical, product, process and other differences that must be addressed. "Failure to properly manage any of these aspects of a project can result in a suboptimal implementation,” says the report.
These areas may include:
Going Outside for Project Management Expertise
Go outside if you don't have the right project management talent in-house. Bringing in external ERP and project management expertise is important if you don't have ERP experience and/or strong project management experience in-house. If your system integrator is providing a project manager to manage the technical parts of the project, consider a third-party overall project manager to provide project supervision.
My ten years ofERP project management experiencewith six ERP projects for three Fortune 500 companies, represents budget responsibility totalling over $50 million.
RELATED
Jeff Woods, Managing VP of Gartner, discusses the best practices for your ERP implementations.
Read more...
Finding the "Perfect" Project Manager
Assemble a Project Management Team Through Staffing
Establishing a project management team led by an experienced ERP Project Manager, with representatives from business, IT, vendors and system integrator (if you're using one) is a Gartner best practice. If the project manager hasn't managed a project with the specific product or version being implemented, include product experts on the team to handle product-specific knowledge and nuance. If the project manager is from outside the company or industry, add team members with company and industry experience. On an upgrade or conversion project, include team members from the original implementation or from a previous upgrade to provide historical reference to the management team.
According to CIO magazine, the average Oracle ERP project budget is $12.6 million. From my experience, more than three-fourths of that sum – roughly $10 million – is typically spent on project labor, and that includes other key roles on the management team – the solution architect, application architect, functional lead(s), technical lead(s), organizational change management lead, and the test lead. These experts support the project manager with the historical, product, technical, industry and company-specific knowledge necessary for a successful project.
ERP Projects are not a Training Ground, or a Part-Time Effort for the Project Manager
ERP projects – even a technical upgrade – are not a good training ground for a novice project manager. Nor is it a part-time effort – nearly all ERP projects demand a full-time project manager to drive the project to completion and keep the team on track day-to-day. ERP projects need a strong project manager to manage scope effectively, and coordinate the numerous stakeholders whose interests may be at odds with each other and/or the project's goals.
Combining other project roles with the Project Manager role may be acceptable for small projects but not a large ERP effort.
The best-practice approach is a project management team that comprises representatives from business, the IT department, vendors and the system integrator (if the company is using one).
ERP is still vital to the
enterprise
A Forrester survey of more than 2,200 IT executives and technology decision-makers in North America and Europe found that modernizing key legacy applications is the top software initiative for businesses this year.
ERP is a substantial
investment
CIO magazine laid out the costs for today's ERP systems from a Tier I provider: "Total cost for an average SAP install runs nearly $17 million, Oracle at $12.6 million and Microsoft is relative bargain at $2.6 million. Tier II ERP providers average in at $3.5 million."
Gartner Resarch:Your ERP Upgrade Is Riskier and More Complex Than You Think September 2007www.gartner.com
Gartner Resarch:
Your ERP Upgrade Is Riskier and More Complex Than You Think
September 2007
www.gartner.com
Maximize Your Budget
In today's economy, every company wants the highest quality project manager they can find at the lowest price. With a direct contract with Steve Griffis, PMP, you may be able to significantly reduce your project management costs without sacrificing the quality of talent.
A survey of published consulting rates by ten of the top Oracle implementation providers as identified by Forrester Research found these firms charge up to $454 an hour - plus expenses - for senior ERP project manager talent. These rates represent the "most favored customer" pricing for the federal government.
Using salary data from Glassdoor.com, we estimated the markup as a percentage of the total bill rate for these firms and they range from 35% to 70%. Similarly, the industry standard for staffing firm markups for IT talent averages 25% to 35%. If your company is using an implementation provider or staffing firm for a project manager, you're paying a markup somewhere between 25% and 70% that's being used to pay for overhead and partner profits.
If you're interested in big firm quality without the big firm markup, please contact me about your project needs.
Hourly Billing Rates
Ten Top Oracle Implementation Providers*
GSA Schedule 70
Senior Manager 2
$454.13/hr
Business Integration Associate Partner 1
$325.53/hr
IT Program Manager I
$311.18/hr
Practice Manager
$253.15/hr
Sr. Project Manager (D)
$232.00/hr
Sr. Project Manager
$158.11/hr
TCS America
Project Manager
$154.51/hr
Manager
$146.63/hr
$141.25/hr
Senior Project Manager
$115.00/hr
* Sources: ForresterWave™ Oracle Services Providers, Q4 2009; U.S.Government Services Administration
Operate Efficiently
Steve Griffis, PMP is a division of MBO Partners. MBO Partners provides Portable Employer of Record (PER) services, back office support and business insurances so I can focus on managing your project or consulting assignment.
Portable Employer of Record(PER)
Eliminate IRS1099 Reclassification Risk
Through MBO Partners, you can engage us directly without fear of IRS reclassification penalties. In the past, engaging contractors directly was problematic, as the IRS may have deemed such relationships unacceptable and demanded payment of back payroll taxes (and potentially other penalties).
An alternative has emerged, however, that enables businesses to capture real value from internal contractor recruitment. PER services offer an engagement channel for internally recruited contractors that is significantly less expensive than staffing companies and shelters clients from IRS reclassification
risk.
Back Office Support
Easy Contract Administration
Professional Back Office Staff
MBO Partners provides clients with a secure online HCM and Financials application, MyBizOffice, that provides time tracking, expense management, and account status and reporting. MBO Partners's professional back office staff handles all of our legal, invoicing, and collections activities.
Business Insurances
MBO Partners provides $1 million of General Liability insurance, $1 million in professional Errors and Omissions insurance, and a $5 million Crime Bond.
About MBO Partners
For over twenty years, MBO Partners makes it easy for independent consultants and their clients to work together.
With their Portable Employer of Record service powered by the MyBizOffice system, MBO Partners is the preferred alternative to self-incorporation for independent consultants, freelancers, 1099s, and independent contractors.
For organizations that use independent contractors and SOW consultants, MBO Partners is the leading provider of independent contractor payrolling, 1099 risk mitigation, and independent contractor compliance solutions. http://www.mbopartners.com
Control Expenses
Expenses can add 15-25% to the total cost of consultants.
In today's economy, using a combination of smart travel procurement and flexible engagement options, travel expenses can be tightly controlled.
Smart Travel Procurement
I've traveled for work on and off for the past 20 years. In the past three years I've returned to "road warrior" status, doing the "consultant commute," usually on the road four days a week, and making my own travel arrangements online. Using a combination of online services - Kayak, Priceline, and others, I'm usually able to purchase heavily discounted travel services - hotel, air, and car rental - using these techniques:
Online Expense Processing
Through MBO Partners, all expenses are processed through MyBizOnline, MBO Partners' automated expense management system. Expenses are billed at cost, and there's never a markup on expenses. Expenses are processed quickly and efficiently with all required documentation.
All-Inclusive Rate Option
Some clients prefer an all-inclusive rate to simplify invoicing and accounting. I can provide an all-inclusive rate for most engagements if needed.
Many companies plan to save money on business travel in 2010 by authorizing less travel overall. Flexible work arrangements, including alternate schedules, telecommuting, and compressed workweeks can also help reduce travel and expense costs. I'm happy to work with you to accomodate your requests for flexible work arrangements.
In the new economy, companies want to engage talent quickly, and obtain the highest quality project manager they can find at the best possible price.
Direct Contract
With a direct contract, you may be able to significantly reduce your project management costs without sacrificing the quality of talent. Direct contracting is facilitated through MBO Partners, eliminating 1099 reclassification risks while providing professional back office support and full business insurances.
Staffing Options
Services are also avaible through a traditional staffing model, for companies with preferred vendors.
Please contact me about your project needs.
Contract directly with Steve Griffis as your ERP project manager to mitigate risk, maximize your budget, and control expenses.
Retaining project managers from the top Oracle implementators and staffing companies include markups and fees from 25% to 70%.
Contract directly with an experienced, successful ERP project manager to manage your project.
Stop paying recruiting fees, staffing fees and corporate markups. Get maximum value for your project management budget.
Mitigate Contracting Risks
Choose a contractor with a Portable Employer of Record, complete documented business insurances, and a professional back-office support team with a 20-year track record.
Onboard a contract project manager and avoid the IRS reclassification risk. insurance exposure, and administrative hassles.
You are sheltered from IRS reclassification risk, complete insurance coverage, plus you receive personal account service and online reporting.
Choose a contractor with a smart program to manage travel expenses that takes advanatage of today's online travel marketplace.
Consultant travel is controlled though smart procurement and online documentation and tracking.
Travel expenses can add 15-25% to the cost of consultants, and can become an administrative headache.
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