PTS Article Archive

Project Planning

When planning a project, especially one that is spread out over more than one location, there is a discipline to follow. Supply Chain Systems* recently listed a set of quick rules that they recommend for any such project:

1. Look as far forward as your budget will allow. Don't cut corners without fully understanding the implications.

2. Set lots of early milestones to show success early and to keep the project moving forward.
3. Wrong data is NOT better than no data.
4. Don't skimp on training.
5. Don't skimp on training.
6. Don't skimp on training.

While the technology people really enjoy working with new technology, many of them have no concept of the human costs involved in changing the way people work. A system is always a system of people. Training is often the difference between a successful system and one that goes down with mutual recriminations.

Planning for thorough training can have other consequences. A common reason for trouble with a new system is that this new system had not been put through its paces thoroughly enough. A thorough training plan can expose weaknesses in the system (in some cases, the training plan has exposed problems with the system design.) It is important to bring in both front line supervisors and power users into the review of the training process.

New systems do not need to be major crisises. With proper planning, they can go in smoothly and with patience: provide the benefits they promised.

*Supply Chain Systems Magazine Vol 22, No. 5 May 2002

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