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Few Common Questions About Digital Transformation
What is Digital Transformation?
Digital Transformation infuses positive change in Business – by enhancing digital capabilities that:
- improves customer experience
- reduce operation cost, risk
- increase efficiency and intelligence
It means Digital Transformation offers you happier customers and a healthier business.
Why my Business needs Digital Transformation?
If you understand what Digital Transformation is, then its need is quite apparent. However, do not think of it as a once-off implementation of some technology project. Instead, it is a continuous journey with the core focus on business improvement, strategy implementation and leveraging digital opportunities.
When it is the right time for Digital Transformation?
Your Digital Transformation journey is unique to your Business. Sooner you start better it is, irrespective of your industry, size of the Business and investment appetite. You can begin this journey inhouse, without the need to rely on consultants.
How can my Business undergo Digital Transformation?
The first step is to understand the current state, business strategy, digital opportunities and then carefully plan the Digital Transformation journey.
Who needs to be involved in Digital Transformation?
It is a team effort; therefore, you need a strong executive sponsorship, key-users or subject matter experts and an implementation team.
About SP Singh
ERP Consultant
I implement ERP solutions that enhance customer experience, improve efficiency and skyrocket growth.
I understand that investing in technology is not easy. I work with you to understand core business problems, goals and opportunities. Then, I design a custom plan (roadmap) to meet your business objectives. My objective is to deliver ERP solutions that increase ROI and minimise risk. I strive for simplification and true partnership with my customers and their vendors.
So, if you are looking for a trusted leader for your ERP transformation journey, then you are in the right place.
Companies & People I’ve Worked With
“I had the pleasure to work with SP at the BP Kwinana Refinery. He excelled at creating order, project planning and tactful communication. He could be relied upon to make decisions and communicate them with confidence. I’d be delighted to work with SP again.“
SP is a very diligent and professional team member that carefully weighs the requirements and approaches to each solution component. He is very capable of analysing complex needs and describing them well for the rest of the team to engage with.
MD, Precise Business Solutions.
Being committed and passionate about his craft are traits that come to mind when thinking about SP. Having worked previously with SP, he demonstrated strong capability to manage multiple projects, often with competing priorities. His attention to detail is top notch and he was able to work productively with his colleagues and customers to achieve outcomes. SP would be an asset for any organisations project management team.
Procurement Specialist, SAP Ariba.
Blog & Resources
Technology in Non for Profit sector!
by SP Singh | 5 October 2022 | Non for Profit | 0 Comments
There is a massive opportunity in front of us! Software and technology solutions are standing right in front of our doorstep. They are knocking on our door and screaming that they have value to add! For one reason or another, the Non for Profit (NFP) sector has been...
No one needs your advice on hindsight!
by SP Singh | 4 October 2022 | Leadership | 0 Comments
A child was riding a push bike. Pushing too hard, he fell. His dad ran to him and said, “You should slow down!” The project stakeholders were not happy with the random surprises during the project. The Project owner advised the Project Manager to communicate...
Why do we never make bad decisions in projects?
by SP Singh | 3 October 2022 | Decision making | 0 Comments
Sometimes we take our time to gather facts and make informed decisions. Other times we take the decision and support it by justification. In either case, we tell ourselves and others that we are never wrong! How many times did we admit within the team the following? I...
How to silently kill new ideas?
by SP Singh | 2 October 2022 | Leadership | 0 Comments
New ideas can be the game changer for any organisation. However, corporate machines silently kill new ideas every day! New ideas generally come from new perspectives. The new perspectives are the byproduct of an outsider reviewing your business. The most common...
Stop riding on the rocky road with rose-coloured glasses!
by SP Singh | 1 October 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital initiatives rely on software vendors and integrators who offer software implementation services. The software vendors ensure that their clients (you) have reasonable confidence and faith in them. It is a good practice, as all services-based businesses must...
In the project world, everything costs!
by SP Singh | 30 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There is a cost to managing risk. However, there can also be a cost to not managing risks. There is a cost to increasing the quality. However, there can also be a cost for not improving the quality. There is a cost to hiring a competent project team. However, there...
What is the cost of incompetence?
by SP Singh | 29 September 2022 | Project Execution | 0 Comments
We should work as one team, without judgement. We should work hard and collaborate with the team members to meet the end goal! Sounds good? Yes, it sounds good and philosophical! However, not all members of your team are competent. The common assumption is that all...
Beware of big words!
by SP Singh | 28 September 2022 | Sales | 0 Comments
We will architect a very sleek solution by exploiting design principles, lean, and web 2.0 best practices.VsWe will develop an intuitive user interface Consider another example: Business leaders need to think big! Digital transformation is going to change the paradigm...
Look at me!
by SP Singh | 27 September 2022 | Leadership | 0 Comments
Filled with excitement or down in deep sorrow, kids ask us – Look at me! Be a part of me, be with me, celebrate with me, listen to me. As humans, we need that level of support and someone to rely on. This need does not go anywhere as we grow into adults. During our...
How to improve your project team morale instantly?
by SP Singh | 26 September 2022 | Leadership | 0 Comments
Project work is challenging. Often your Project team has to work long hours and handle stressful situations. They deal with too many unknowns for long periods. During the project, you may experience your team's morale turning into a rollercoaster. So you may wonder,...
What is the role of the architect within your business?
by SP Singh | 25 September 2022 | Architecture | 0 Comments
Imagine a house build without the input of a professional architect. It is likely to be all over the place. Most certainly, it will crumble and be unsafe to live in. We all know that the architect has a vital role in the building of the house. Yet, when it comes to...
Your story is the commodity!
by SP Singh | 24 September 2022 | Leadership | 0 Comments
Yes, it is true! Your story is the commodity! Look around and observe the noise everyone is making. The narrative they are setting. The picture they are painting. Observe their pitch, which often gets you over the hook. Note how over time, their story gets more...
Different shades of truth!
by SP Singh | 24 September 2022 | Leadership | 0 Comments
Hear the following conversation: Sandy: Hey Rob, I need to review the issue, and I will get back to you asap. It is a high-priority issue, and Rob wants to share an update with the executive sponsor (Tim). Read the following possible responses from Rob. Note that Rob...
Understand and appreciate our differences!
by SP Singh | 22 September 2022 | Leadership | 0 Comments
This morning, my daughter was a little angry. I didn’t like that! So, I pretended to be angry to demonstrate how others perceived me as an angry person. She got the message. Later in the day, I told her that she should learn to manage her anger. She said, “Papa, I am...
Stop putting off decisions! It is not acceptable!
by SP Singh | 21 September 2022 | Decision making | 0 Comments
We had a great meeting! We discussed all the points as per the agenda. We hear perspectives and objections. We clarify questions and reach to end. Here, we wanted the decision maker to make key decisions. So, we asked for it. She said – "Let me get back to you"!...
Why additional scope and cost can be a good thing?
by SP Singh | 20 September 2022 | Scope Management | 0 Comments
Sponsors hate to see additional scope and cost on the project. But, additional scope and cost can be a good thing. It is a mindset game, so reframe the decision of approving additional scope and cost. Rather than thinking – ‘we expect the project to be complete within...
What is the primary role of the Project Manager?
by SP Singh | 19 September 2022 | Role and Responsibility | 0 Comments
The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for many things. But what is the primary role of the Project Manager? At a superficial theoretical level, the primary role of the Project manager is to manage and deliver the contract/Statement of Work (SoW). But what if the...
Top talent is not sufficient for a successful project!
by SP Singh | 18 September 2022 | Organisation Culture | 0 Comments
Hiring top talent is not sufficient for a successful project. The Project team must also put their heart into the project. They must all have clarity on the end goal and a shared spirit to succeed in the initiative. So, as a sponsor, you must ensure the team develops...
Are you having fun?
by SP Singh | 17 September 2022 | Organisation Culture | 0 Comments
We are the most creative and offer our best services in the right working environment. How do you know if the Project team are in the right working environment? Look out and ask only one thing from the team. Are you having fun? Team members are vulnerable and open to...
It is not about you!
by SP Singh | 16 September 2022 | Visioning and Selection | 0 Comments
As an executive, you may have your goals, aspirations, and hope to improve the current business. But, remember, it is not about you! Connecting your staff with a higher organisation objective and cause is far better. People happily work for a higher objective and...
Information systems are a bottomless money pit!
by SP Singh | 15 September 2022 | Digital Transformation | 0 Comments
Executives and senior stakeholders often complain that information systems are a bottomless money pit! We hear stories of their investment in ERP and CRM systems over the past 5-10 years. They complain that these Business systems appear to be never complete. There is...
Fake it till you make it, sucks!
by SP Singh | 14 September 2022 | Organisation Culture | 0 Comments
Ok, I admit – Fake it till you make it - may work on a few occasions! But we cannot - Fake it till you make it - to become a team player! Yet, we all see bad advice on: How to give feedback (by feedback sandwich)?How to build rapport (by mirroring)?The famous...
What is the top problem in project delivery?
by SP Singh | 13 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Project delivery is often very challenging. The top problem in project delivery is that we do not consciously try to understand the customer. We tend to follow an easier path, the 'look at me' approach. The first step is to learn about the customer and customer...
How to bake the perfect project?
by SP Singh | 12 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There is no recipe to bake the perfect project or precisely deliver a successful project! Project management is an art as much as it is a science. We should continue learning the ways to deliver successful projects. At the same time, we should know there is no set way...
The enormous waste that no one is paying attention to!
by SP Singh | 11 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Sustainability, clean energy, environment protection and a green economy are the focus topics around the developed world. However, there is enormous waste that no one is paying attention to! This waste costs economies tens of billions, but we don’t talk much about it....
Why do executives struggle to understand the ground reality?
by SP Singh | 11 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There can be many reasons why executives struggle to under the ground reality of the organisation. I believe the main reason is that they pretend to behave like a race car driver. They look straight (narrow focus) and lose the 360-degree view. They never see the big...
The person who tells their story first, repeatedly to the most people, wins!
by SP Singh | 9 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We may want to think of ourselves as logical and rational human beings. It is far from reality, however. The fact is that we blindly follow the narrative set by the first person telling the story. If the same narrative is told repeatedly, the firmer our belief...
Truth is like a needle in a stack of falsehood!
by SP Singh | 8 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We are increasingly distracted by technology, culture, office politics and power games. As an executive, it is vital to hear the truth and make decisions that matter. However, truth is like a needle in a stack of falsehood. To be politically correct, we mould things...
Failure is overrated!
by SP Singh | 7 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Sorry, I failed to meet the deadline for a significant milestone!I failed to deliver the project on time!I failed to understand customer requirements!I failed to develop fit of purpose solution!I failed to choose the right software vendor/product!I failed to manage...
You will never be done with Digital technology!
by SP Singh | 6 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Businesses are always going to catch up with digital technology. After a significant IT investment, you may want to think that you are done. However, the fact is that you will never be done with Digital technology! Terms and concepts like Computerisation,...
What are the building blocks of the Digital Ecosystem?
by SP Singh | 5 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the past few posts, we cover the basics of the Digital Ecosystem. What is the Digital Ecosystem? Who is managing your Digital Ecosystem? Now, let us take one more step and try to list the building blocks of the Digital Ecosystem. You may be thinking, why is it...
Who is managing your Digital Ecosystem?
by SP Singh | 4 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Do you know who is managing your Digital Ecosystem in your business? Is it your IT or architecture team or outsourced to a vendor? How do you know how well the team responsible manages the Digital Ecosystem? How well do you know about your ecosystem? Do you know which...
What is the Digital Ecosystem?
by SP Singh | 4 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The Digital Ecosystem is the collection of digital assets that produce a value of some sort within the enterprise's viewpoint. For example, a manufacturing company uses digital assets (software/hardware) for marketing, sales, production, Finance, HR and interactions...
Deeper I go, the more I know – how insignificant I am!
by SP Singh | 2 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
A few months ago, I started learning Karate with my daughter. I assumed it was going to be an easy ride for me. Well, how difficult punching/kicking can be. Soon I realised how wrong I was. It takes years to reach any decent level (say a black belt). Another amazing...
Are we gaining experience or merely getting old?
by SP Singh | 1 September 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
How experienced are you in Project Management?I have ten years of Project Management experience. The above response only tells us that someone has spent ten years managing projects. It is not an accurate measure of their experience. The experience is what and how much...
Professional suicide in the boardroom!
by SP Singh | 31 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
During the steering co, it is so common to observe the top executive telling everyone what to do. Elaborating on how smart I am and proving the incompetencies of the project team. Taking pride in what and how much I know, ignoring to leverage the value others in the...
Professional suicide! Please don’t do it!
by SP Singh | 30 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
To me, professional suicide is when we say to ourselves the following: I am enough!I know it all!These people are so dumb!I am on top of the food chain!I am CXO for a reason! Basically, professional suicide is when we stop learning from the position of pride. So, we...
How to deal with issues within your team?
by SP Singh | 29 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
As a leader, it is your responsibility to resolve the issues within the project team. You may find a constant theme of problems. For example, the decision makers postpone most decisions, lack of open communication, and lack of alignment within different groups. So,...
Why some companies are so innovative?
by SP Singh | 28 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Innovation is one of the coolest and most overused terms in the business world. Most of us use it loosely to portray the company's technological advancement. Innovation is not limited to technology, however. So let us first try to answer why some companies are so...
Perceived value never remains the same!
by SP Singh | 27 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Once upon a time, automatic/mechanical watches were used for telling time. Today these watches say the time of their owner. These high-end watches are expensive to buy and maintain. People wear them for very different purposes. It can be a status symbol. It can be to...
Accountability score!
by SP Singh | 26 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
How are you going on your accountability score? When things do not manifest as we expect, we quickly find others' issues, problems, and shortcomings. So rather than focusing on getting back on track, we dedicated our energy to covering ourselves - our egos,...
Why double standards in technology adoption?
by SP Singh | 25 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
You will find that the retail technology solutions are kept up to date. We love to jump on every opportunity to upgrade our mobile phones, smart watches, tablets and laptops. However, as an executive, we make lousy or no decisions to upgrade business systems. Due to...
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it! Why not?
by SP Singh | 24 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the business world, we often hear that if it isn't broken, don't fix it! So, if the existing business process, business system, or website is functioning, then don't touch it. It is doing its job, so leave the digital assets alone. At the surface level, it makes...
Why does software degrade with time?
by SP Singh | 23 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Software is a set of instructions given to the computer system to process information. So, what software is doing today should continue to do tomorrow. Therefore, the software will continue processing the information with the exact instructions (logic). For example,...
What do I need to do as a Project Sponsor?
by SP Singh | 22 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Are you sponsoring a project for the first time? It is a big responsibility, and you must know your role within the project. Sometimes, however, what is expected from you may not be clear. You are not going to receive a position description. Your stakeholders expect...
Why should Project Sponsor adopt a Product Owner mindset?
by SP Singh | 21 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The '7 habits of highly effective people' is a classic. It is a highly recommended book for everyone. The second habit in the book is 'Begin with the end in mind'. This habit is effective for all aspects of our life. Take time to read more about it in your own time....
What value the enterprise software implementation will add to the business?
by SP Singh | 20 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We spend millions of dollars on software implementations. Yet, most stakeholders may struggle to illustrate - what value the enterprise software implementation will add to the business. As a sponsor, do you know what value the project you are sponsoring will add? In...
Does your ERP system need a service?
by SP Singh | 19 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Your car probably works hard for a living. You rely on it and depend on it. Consequently, at regular intervals, you will put it in the hands of people you trust to check it and ensure it runs correctly. At the same time, they will re-tune it for peak performance. ERP...
Skills that Digital Capability Development Team must have!
by SP Singh | 18 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Continuing my grinding on digital capability development. We have established in the past few posts that you should continue investing in improving your business's digital capabilities. It is an ongoing process and should never stop. You should therefore consider...
Digital Capability Development Team is not IT!
by SP Singh | 17 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last few posts, we covered that SMEs should develop a concept of continuous digital improvement. Therefore, SMEs should consider setting the digital capabilities on ongoing bases. The Digital Capability Development (CDC) team is responsible for offering these...
Develop your digital muscle!
by SP Singh | 16 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
If we compare the development in technology with its application within businesses, we will find a huge difference. While technology is making significant shifts, enterprises are struggling to catch up—for example, cloud adoption, implementation of data science, AI...
ERP implementation is complete! What is next?
by SP Singh | 15 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Congratulation if the ERP implementation is complete! So what is next for you? You can choose to relax, pat yourself on the back and chill out or keep grinding to add more value. Read on if you are of the later type. Here are a few thoughts on the few initiatives to...
Should SMEs continue investing in technology?
by SP Singh | 14 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There is a common misconception among SMEs that, at some point, they will be done with technology. For example, after implementing an ERP solution, the company may assume that they are at par with their competition. So, they are done with technology investment for...
What is Digital Capability Development Team?
by SP Singh | 13 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The Digital Capability Development Team is a group/department within a business responsible for developing and implementing digital capabilities to support the business vision, mission and goals. Therefore, the Digital Capability Development (DCD) team is responsible...
Stop complicating things! There is no set recipe for digital transformation!
by SP Singh | 12 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We love debates! Pick any topic; you will find thousands of articles debating different viewpoints. We love to complicate things to win. For instance, search for the following topics on the internet: Agile Vs Waterfall, which is better?Project Manager Vs Scrum Master,...
Why hire a consultant while the internet has tons of information?
by SP Singh | 11 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Self-help is a good thing. But be careful; self-help can be self-harm when you have little information and much isolation. Many SMEs assume they can select, implement and rollout enterprise software in-house. Without help, they reinvent every wheel. As a result, they...
How to reduce the cost of enterprise software implementation?
by SP Singh | 10 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise software (ERP/CRM) are relatively expensive initiative. Due to the high cost, many business owners and executives sit on the fence about deciding to invest in enterprise software. There is, therefore, value in asking the following question: How to reduce...
Methodologies are overrated!
by SP Singh | 9 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
You are waiting on the shore for a boat to take you across the ocean to the other end. Two boats rock up and start convincing you how good they are. They tried to impress you on why you should consider sailing with them. After a while, they said they developed a...
Who should be the sponsor of the ERP project?
by SP Singh | 8 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
When we implement a new ERP, who should be the sponsor of the ERP project? Should it be CEO, COO, GM, CFO or MD? You may say it depends! Yes, it depends on many factors. But it should not rely on the job title but instead on qualities. We often label people with job...
How are investment decisions made on digital projects?
by SP Singh | 7 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
You may think that executives and board members take a very pragmatic approach to deciding on digital CapEx projects. Unfortunately, it is seldom the case, however! Most investment decisions made on digital projects are driven by the ‘carrot or stick’ syndrome. Carrot...
Why do businesses delay decisions to invest in enterprise solutions?
by SP Singh | 6 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Investing in enterprise solutions (ERP/CRM) is a big commitment from any business. These solutions are complex and require strong sponsorship. We often observe that these solutions can instantly add massive value to traditional SMEs. Yet, the companies delay decisions...
What is the most challenging aspect of digital projects?
by SP Singh | 5 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There is often a big misconception that digital projects are all about technology. We implement cutting-edge technology and transform businesses. The common assumption is that technology is the most challenging aspect of digital projects. It is far from the truth,...
Use common sense! Stop blindly trusting research!
by SP Singh | 4 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Research has shown that smaller meals throughout the day improve your health.VsResearch has shown that intermittent fasting helps to improve heart health and weight loss. Research has shown carnivore diet has massive health benefits.VsResearch has shown vegetarian...
Why ERP implementation is taking so much time and effort?
by SP Singh | 4 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Are you currently sponsoring ERP within your business? Are you wondering why ERP implementation is taking so much time and effort? Look, there can be many reasons. But, often, we question and doubt ERP vendors. Nothing wrong with it as long as it helps you! But in any...
ERP is too expensive to implement! Think again!
by SP Singh | 2 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We often hear ‘ERP is too expensive to implement!’. If you believe it is a valid statement, then keep reading. So, you also think that EPR is too expensive? To illustrate my point, let us take an example: I am going to invest and plan to buy an investment house. I...
What is the biggest ERP failure?
by SP Singh | 1 August 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We all experience failure at some point in our lives. Failure is worthwhile if we learn from it. But it doesn’t look like we have learnt much from the biggest ERP failure! So, what is the biggest ERP failure? You may be thinking about some big project! It is not any...
Being ignorant about ERP is not okay!
by SP Singh | 31 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Once upon a time, a young couple was living in a busy town. As they settled in, they decided to purchase their own house. They instantly purchased a tiny apartment. As their kids grew up, the space was not enough, so they rented an extra room within the same building....
Software for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)!
by SP Singh | 30 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
If you are looking for software for Small and Medium enterprise (SME), research ERP. ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. Yes, the name is misleading, but the software can prove to be a game changer. It is single integrated software that can meet SMEs’...
ERP and competition – ERP makes your business like every other business!
by SP Singh | 29 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Business owners and sponsors have concerns about using the same EPR as their competitors. They feel that if they use the same software, their processes will be like each other, so how can they differentiate from their competition? Here are a few thoughts for your...
Is ERP worth it?
by SP Singh | 28 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
After hearing the horror stories of failed ERP implementations, many executives and business owners question investing in ERP implementations. There is no doubt that ERP implementations are risky, expensive and complex. They cost way too much money. So, is ERP worth...
Consultants and their fresh pair of eyes!
by SP Singh | 27 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We tend to have a set pattern of thinking and ways of viewing the world. We have set paradigm to view problems and opportunities in the business context. Consultants and their fresh pair of eyes add value by challenging the current thinking patterns and paradigms. It...
Why are we so busy?
by SP Singh | 26 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
On the global stage of planet earth, we are so busy sorting out life! Why are we so busy? Are we adding real value or digging holes and filling them? One of the main reasons that we are too busy is because we often underestimate problems and overestimate our needs....
The problem is that we do not acknowledge the problem!
by SP Singh | 25 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It is tough to get us to acknowledge problems. We may love to talk about them but don’t accept them. At a personal level, we may be overweight but continue to satisfy ourselves with narratives such as: My body is okay; it is just a little fat around my belly.I put...
Consultants add value by helping you to exploit opportunities!
by SP Singh | 24 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last post, we covered that Business consultants add value by helping you solve business problems. In addition, consultants add value by helping you to exploit opportunities! Let us see how: Opportunities for adopting common practice within your industry:...
How do Business consultants add value?
by SP Singh | 23 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There are many ways Business consultants add value. They help to: identify business problemsdetermine the root cause of the problemsinvestigate and propose solution options for the identified problemsguide solution implementation Business consultants are like doctors...
Every business is dealing with the pain!
by SP Singh | 22 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The question is not if your business needs to automate manual processes. Or if you should consider improving business processes. Irrespective of your business size or type, your business is dealing with the pains of manual information processing, wasteful activities...
Living with pain!
by SP Singh | 21 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
No one wants to be in pain. However, if you are in pain for a long time, you slowly get used to it. After some time, you even do not feel pain. It is because you have adapted to living with pain. The pain is still there, but you have adapted to living with it. There...
Data is the blood of your organisation; keep it clean!
by SP Singh | 20 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Data is the blood of your organisation. It tells you a lot about it! The blood sample can detect disease, illness and dysfunctions within the body. Similarly, analysis of data samples tells the health of the organisation. You can detect bottlenecks, issues and...
Automation is not always good!
by SP Singh | 19 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Everyone loves to automate things! So why do manual labour when technology can automate things for us? But, automation is not always good! Here are a few reasons why: It standardises processes, so providing customised services or product offerings becomes difficultIt...
Promoting change by pushing, pulling and providing lousy service!
by SP Singh | 18 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Changing habits is difficult and painful. Companies invest millions in technology. However, if the customers do not use them, then it is a waste. Not all customers are the same. Few are early adopters; others need more assistance, guidance and support. There are still...
Empty inside as a packet of potato chips!
by SP Singh | 17 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Many of us look flashy from the outside. We stand tall and tight with pride of position and power. But when we open our mouths, we tell everyone we are empty inside as a packet of potato chips! You must have seen a puffed-up packet of potato chips standing tall and...
How to earn respect?
by SP Singh | 17 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last few posts, we covered that don’t take respect from your Project team and stakeholders for granted. As a Project Sponsor, you must earn respect. Then we covered why earning respect is essential. If you are convinced and believe in what we have established...
Why earning respect is so vital for you?
by SP Singh | 15 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The Project teams ultimately report to the Project Sponsor. Therefore, as a Project Sponsor, you may assume to have their respect. It is not true, however. The Project team will not give you respect by default. Instead, you must earn it. But why earning respect is so...
Project Sponsor must command respect from the Project team!
by SP Singh | 14 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Executives often assume that their position within the organisation automatically commands respect from others. You may observe that the people around you can pretend to be polite and demonstrate care. It may be because they want to protect their position within the...
Hire effortless people!
by SP Singh | 13 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The success of your project is highly dependent on your Project team. So, hire the best possible resources for your project. But, what to look for while deciding on the resources for the Project team? The specific details differ based on the factors like the type of...
How do you get the Project team to commit to the plan?
by SP Singh | 12 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Lack of ownership and commitment is a common problem in projects. As a result, project leaders and senior stakeholders often struggle to get a commitment. So, how do you get the Project team to commit to the plan? Look, there is no silver bullet. But, this tactic...
Consultants and cab drivers scam!
by SP Singh | 11 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Cab drivers are often known for scamming new visitors within the city. They take longer routes to make more on the meter. So, the rider has to pay more. Consultants are even worse. The consulting model of per/hour charge is ideally suited for taking longer routes to...
Don’t steal time from the Project Team!
by SP Singh | 10 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Like everything else, we have expectations from the software implementations. Especially enterprise software (ERP/CRM) implementations that impact many organisational divisions. Sponsors and executives often set arbitrary Go-Live expectations. Then, without much...
What is so special about Business Intelligence, Big Data and Data Science?
by SP Singh | 9 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Business Intelligence, Big Data, and Data Science are the set of capabilities, tools, and disciplines to support the business make informed decisions. They offer abilities to measure and manage things that matter the most. But the business must still know what matters...
Be a pioneer or victim of change! The choice is yours!
by SP Singh | 8 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
If you look back ten years, there is a constant pattern in the personal and business world. The repeatable things are relentlessly automated. Think about sophisticated home appliances and robots penetrating our houses. How about the software tools helping us make...
Why are consultants so expensive?
by SP Singh | 7 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Executives have a terrible habit of comparing consultants with their direct reports. Consultants are like guides who hold your hands and navigate you from dark to light. Yes, you can choose to navigate yourself. There is a risk, however. You may be lost in the...
Cost of sitting on a decision!
by SP Singh | 6 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Our business culture permits executives to sit on a decision. You can get away by - Sorry, I was busy! You can rush the Project team for a report, and the report sits on your desk, collecting dust. You know that there is a cost associated with every pending decision....
The good thing about stupidity and making simple things complex!
by SP Singh | 5 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There is one good thing about stupidity and making simple things complex….. It keeps one employed for a longer period. Ask an average information worker what they do every day. They will have a perfect story to justify their existence. They may explain how they copy...
Be nice and stop condemning yourself!
by SP Singh | 4 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Our journeys make us unique. They make us who we are. We as individuals often look back and criticise our past actions and decisions. For instance, I am notoriously bad when it comes to self-evaluation. I usually blame and insult myself. I look back and condemn why I...
Why are Business Systems too complex?
by SP Singh | 3 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
How do you decide which Business Systems you need within your organisation? Do you need one centralised ERP or best-of-breed software and integrations among them? When investing in technology, you may have to consider various solution options. Often, the answer to...
Why do Digital Transformation initiatives fail to offer value?
by SP Singh | 3 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There are many reasons why Digital Transformation initiatives fail to offer value. However, the primary reason is the misconception that Digital Transformation is about Digital solutions. The fact is that Digital Transformations are multidisciplinary initiatives. Let...
We love our tools! So much that we see the world through them!
by SP Singh | 1 July 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We love our tools! A writer loves to write; a coder loves to solve problems through coding; a Project Manager takes pride in Gantt charts. Similarly, to a Business Analyst, most problems are process issues. An Architecture loves to present problems and solutions using...
Beware, choose your enterprise software wisely!
by SP Singh | 30 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
I hate to say it! It is frustrating but true. The Enterprise software industry is full of BS! I have encountered a customer who needed enterprise software for hospitality services. The customer was led to a path of buying a midtier ERP (for Finance), a POS product and...
Why tools, methodologies and Project Management frameworks are overrated?
by SP Singh | 29 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
When I ask a plumber to fix a leaking tap, I don’t care which hand tools he may use. I don’t care about his method and approach to fixing the leaking tap. Instead, my focus is to ensure that the leaking tap is fixed in a reasonable timeframe and cost. On the same...
Why do some project tasks linger to frustrate us?
by SP Singh | 28 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Why is it difficult to get the Project team to close the tasks as per the plan? Why there are lingering subtasks that are never completed? Days and weeks pass by, and we burn time and resources, but something is always pending. Have you had this experience? So, why do...
Systems require all parts to work together in cohesion!
by SP Singh | 27 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
A healthy body can be dysfunctional if there is a problem with a single nerve. Similarly, a machine stops working even if a minor component breaks. Systems require all parts to work together in cohesion. Therefore look at the end-to-end processes and value chains to...
Stop insulting transformations with a narrow viewpoint!
by SP Singh | 26 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Transformations are complex initiatives. A body transformation is not limited to reducing fat and building muscle. However, these two aspects are often quite visible. True body transformation is the coordinated effort to improve all the body elements (metabolism,...
Why do ERP implementations often suck?
by SP Singh | 25 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There is a widespread misconception that ERP implementations have some magical powers. Their implementation will result in a massive improvement in efficiency and customer experience. Many Business Cases claim to recover the investment in less than 5 years. However,...
Partners or Rivals!
by SP Singh | 24 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We will not bend over backwards every time for the customer!It is not our problem; the customer should deal with it!Our consultants are busy; we can not make them available at the drop of a hat!Is it billable work? I don’t have resources available for the free...
Life is a juggling act! So pay attention to the balls you are juggling!
by SP Singh | 23 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Yes, life is a juggling act! We are busy juggling multiple crystal balls. We are not alone, however. Our colleagues and team members are juggling with us too. We nurture the balls and throw them at other team members. They do the same. Finally, the balls mature and...
Driving change in an increasingly softer world!
by SP Singh | 22 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We all love to see upward trends (higher employment, birth rate, life expectancy, boom). We also see people panicking over downward trends and minor issues—for instance, excessive hoarding during COVID lockdowns. We forget to acknowledge that the upward and downward...
‘Division of labour’ has crippling effects on digital projects!
by SP Singh | 21 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
'Division of labour' promotes specialisation. In theory, it makes sense. For example, someone will cut code, another resource will test, and someone else will manage the project. However, ‘Division of labour’ has crippling effects on digital projects! Here is why: Too...
Don’t get the Project Managers to slap every project with the same methodology!
by SP Singh | 20 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
No methodology is fit for every project. The standard methodology is the starting point. The Project Managers (PM) should consider the project's needs, stakeholders, problems, constraints, priorities and many other factors to tailor the standard methodology. If you...
Why do projects goes downhill soon after they start?
by SP Singh | 19 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Many digital projects never liftoff. Instead, they go downhill after the Sales handover to the Delivery team. So, why do projects goes downhill soon after they start? The top reason for the common phenomenon is the lack of collaboration between the Vendor(s) and the...
ERP/CRM projects do not fail by accident!
by SP Singh | 19 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
ERP/CRM projects take at least a few months to complete. Therefore, there is enough time to assess the project's progress and make an informed judgement if the project can fail. The vendor Project team generally has a very good idea about the root cause of the...
Sponsors – Avoid project failure by intentional listening!
by SP Singh | 17 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
As a Sponsor, don’t underestimate the powers of the Status quo. If you leave your troops alone to fight, you will lose, resulting in a failed project. If you don’t intentionally listen to your troops (customer and vendor), the project will fail too. Avoid these costly...
The Role of the Project Sponsor in Digital Projects!
by SP Singh | 16 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The Project Sponsor is like the General fighting against the status quo. Customer and vendor-side troops support you. They join hands to win against their common enemy – the status quo. So, you must stay close to customer and vendor teams and strategise the battle...
How much you reap depends on how much you sow!
by SP Singh | 15 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Most of us would agree with ‘You reap what you sow’. The other aspect is how much did you sow? How much you reap depends on how much you sow! The question is, how much are we investing in sowing the good seeds. What is our plan to irrigate and consistently remove the...
Why are Guiding Principals useless?
by SP Singh | 14 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
You may have seen a little section – ‘The Guiding Principals’, at the start of key project documents. The author writes it. The stakeholders review and sometimes debate it. Then, when the document is approved, no one ever looks at them. Look, the problem is not in the...
What are you prepared to give away?
by SP Singh | 13 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
You must know what are you prepared to give away? Life is all about giving and taking. If you want to attain something, you must first give. The question is, what are you prepared to give! To earn money, you give away your time and energyTo learn, you may give away...
Who is responsible for risk management within Digital projects?
by SP Singh | 12 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It appears to be a pretty straightforward question: Who is responsible for risk management within Digital projects? I hope you don’t say it is the Project Manager (PM). How could a PM be responsible for managing all project risks? The role of the PM is to set up a...
Why are we too shy to log this significant risk?
by SP Singh | 11 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital projects are all about working collaboratively to deliver the intended outcome within given constraints. However, the reality is that we work in silos of smoky glass walls. Often the Vendor and Customer side Project teams behave like rivals rather than...
Kill the – ‘It is not my problem’ culture!
by SP Singh | 10 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
‘It is not my problem’ is different from ‘It is not a problem.’ When someone says, ‘It is not my problem’, they don’t want to share the problem/risk with any appropriate authority. As a result, the risk remains there. An unreported and unmonitored risk can soon become...
Risks make cross-selling a piece of cake!
by SP Singh | 9 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
You decided to buy a new iPhone from the local dealer. Salesman: So, which colour do you like? You: Black, please! Salesman: That is a nice colour; we have it in stock too. Now, let me show you the accessories. 80% of our customers who do not buy iPhone cases come...
Risk management workshops are a waste of time!
by SP Singh | 8 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Yes, Risk management workshops are a waste of time. One day a group of stakeholders get together and talk about project risks. The facilitator documents the risks along with other information in the risk register. The next day everyone gets busy in their lives. What...
There are risks in everything we do!
by SP Singh | 7 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There are risks in everything we do. For example, there are risks in breathing, walking, and climbing. However, it doesn’t mean that we stop all actions to be safe. Similarly, as a Project Sponsor, you may hear about various risks in the project. Again, when someone...
Check the ladder you are climbing!
by SP Singh | 6 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We measure the project progress based on the agreed Project Budget and Schedule (plan). In turn, the project schedule and budget are based on several assumptions: The software we are implementing will meet the business needsWe have capable resources to undertake the...
A directionless busy team that goes nowhere!
by SP Singh | 6 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We measure project progress by comparing the planned time/budget against the actuals. It is a very rudimentary method where everyone pretends to be busy. Let us consider the following example: I signed a contract with a Builder to construct my house. After two months,...
How to validate assumptions?
by SP Singh | 4 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last few posts, we covered: importance of documenting project assumptions,why Project Sponsors should focus on assumptions,different types of project assumptions that often cause issues and,how vital assumptions are in project estimates As a Project Sponsor,...
Close your eyes and reject all estimates without assumptions!
by SP Singh | 3 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Do yourself a favour. Reject all software implementation estimates that you ever receive without assumptions. Why? Imagine going to the Builder and asking for estimates to build a house. The Builder may ask a few questions to clarify the type of house. Then, rest, he...
One question that Project Sponsors must ask the most!
by SP Singh | 2 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Project Sponsors must ask intelligent questions to the Project Team and stakeholders. But what is the one question that Project Sponsors must ask the most? Imagine the Project Manager updating the Sponsor about project risks, issues, and decisions. Among all other...
These 11 project assumptions are causing immense grief!
by SP Singh | 1 June 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The problem is that we do not document project assumptions and validate them. Instead, we keep on going with the broad leap of faith. These 11 project assumptions are causing immense grief: The new enterprise software we choose will meet our current and future...
Assumptions and hopes keep us going forward, but you should be aware of them!
by SP Singh | 31 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We wash our hands with soap and wipe with a paper towel, assuming the paper towel is clean. Similarly, we choose enterprise software, assuming it will meet our business needs. The fact is that these assumptions and hopes keep us going forward. However, we should be...
Ask for a workable product! Don’t forget – Less is more!
by SP Singh | 30 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The customer Project team often gets stuck in the perfection trap. As they know more about the possibilities during the Enterprise software implementation, they ask for more stuff. The following are a few of the standard requests: Additional module – For example,...
8 profound reasons to protect the project timeline in every possible way!
by SP Singh | 29 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise projects (ERP/CRM) are big, complex and messy. They often require Project Sponsors to make hard decisions. One thing that every Sponsor must protect is the Project completion date. So, the Sponsor must ensure that project completes as per the planned...
What is the one thing that every Project Sponsor must protect?
by SP Singh | 29 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise implementations are complex beasts. It would be nice if Project Sponsors have clarity on priority. What is more important? Ensuring the product (project outcome) is well received by the business, orThe project is delivered within the set budget, orThe...
Customer and Vendor project teams connect to fight against the status quo!
by SP Singh | 27 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Once upon a time, an army of two countries joined to fight one strong enemy. Both armies joined to form a massive power. The Leaders of both the countries were confident that they would win the battle. So, as per the plan, they attacked the enemy. The enemy didn't...
What is the purpose of a Change request or Variation?
by SP Singh | 26 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
You may have a love or hate relationship with Change Requests (CR), depending on which side you sit on. For example, on the vendor side, Project Managers take pride in getting the customer to approve CRs. Similarly, Professional Services Managers (with P&L...
Don’t fool yourself by assuming you know it all!
by SP Singh | 25 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Be very cautious when you hear from the ERP/CRM vendor: Oh, we have done it many times. We are confident that we will complete the project within the set time and budget. Nothing is straightforward in enterprise application projects. Assuming you know it all is one of...
What is the role of a Customer Project Sponsor in Enterprise software implementation?
by SP Singh | 24 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Continuing from our 'building the big family house' example, let us continue. Please first refer to the following two posts, for continuity: Who exactly are the Subject Matter Experts in Enterprise software implementation? What is the role of the Customer Project...
What is the role of the Customer Project Manager in Enterprise software implementation?
by SP Singh | 23 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Remember, we spoke about building a family house in the last post? Please read and refresh your memory before continuing further. Building a big family house can have some challenges: The family members sharing needs of the house may provide conflicting requirements...
Who exactly are the Subject Matter Experts in Enterprise software implementation?
by SP Singh | 22 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The Project team on the customer side is known by different fancy titles like Subject Matter Experts (SME), Site Champions, and Project Champions. So, who exactly are the Subject Matter Experts? Let us first consider an example to make our life easier! Imagine you are...
How to measure project success?
by SP Singh | 22 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The standard way to measure project success is to match the 'actuals' with 'planned' constraints. During project initiation, we set project success criteria and the constraints. The typical project constraints are Scope, Time, Budget and Quality. We match the actual...
Project planning is useless until we address this annoying thing!
by SP Singh | 20 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We prepare a project plan. Then Business As Usual (BAU) work surprise us by taking priority, and we plan again. It is one of the typical negative cycles we all experience. Unfortunately, it looks like we have accepted it as a general business practice. So, we seldom...
Educate the project team! Before it is too late!
by SP Singh | 19 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It is a norm to educate passengers before any significant journey. Remember how Air Hostess explains the aircraft's emergency evacuation and safety features? Similarly, we make induction mandatory for any significant site visits. Again, the purpose is to educate us to...
Play your role with intent!
by SP Singh | 18 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We all have a role to play. Sometimes we are in sales, busy selling our product, service or craft. Other times we are customers making the best choices for ourselves and our organisations. So our roles are fluid, but always ensure to play your role with intent! As a...
Burn your messy house and move to a new one!
by SP Singh | 17 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It sounds silly, isn’t it? Burn your messy house and move to a new one! Then, why do we change enterprise (ERP/CRM) software? If the existing EPR has issues (is messy), then why do we replace it with another similar ERP? Why don’t we ask some hard questions like: What...
Why are IT projects too complex?
by SP Singh | 16 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It is a common myth that the complexity of IT projects is due to technical development work. We assume that the technical solutions within IT projects are complex. The fact is that technological development is a small portion of the overall project. The main reason...
10 symptoms pointing figure at your enterprise software!
by SP Singh | 15 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It does not matter where you are on the digital maturity journey; there is always room for improvement. The following 10 symptoms pointing figure at your enterprise software. As an executive/Project Sponsor, review and plan to take action. Acknowledging the problem is...
Why do we not deal with our problems?
by SP Singh | 14 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We often fail to acknowledge our problems. On the other hand, we don’t do anything to fix the problems that we register. Eventually, we live with them for so long that we get used to them. They become part of us! But why do we not deal with our problems? There are...
Live with the problem; slowly, it becomes part of you!
by SP Singh | 13 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The problem is that either there is ‘no problem’ or there is a problem, but we don’t do anything about it. When we say that there is ‘no problem’, it literally means that we have learned to live with it. On the other hand, when we acknowledge the problem then, we...
Jumping out of the window!
by SP Singh | 12 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Customer: I want to jump out of the window! Consultant: No problem, this is the easy requirement. Let me unlock and open the window for you..... I don't know who told the consulting community that the customer is always right! First, a consultant's job is to ask...
How to get the top-notch vendors to work with you?
by SP Singh | 11 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Your digital initiative is as good as the people working on it. As a Project Sponsor, you must attract the best possible talent for your project. Therefore, get the best possible internal team and top vendors for your project. Now, here is a question for you: How to...
Have you ever thought – How to be a valuable customer?
by SP Singh | 10 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We assume that as a customer, we hold a position of power. Therefore, vendors will readily be available to serve us. Our common assumption is that we just need a healthy budget to make things happen for the business. When competing to get the attention of the top...
Transform vendor relationships from ‘transactional’ to ‘partnership’!
by SP Singh | 9 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There are fundamental differences between B2B and B2C operating models. The problem is that we limit our thinking and possibilities due to sheer ignorance. For instance, we keep managing B2B relationships like B2C. We restrict ourselves only to transactional...
Are you hiring an independent consultant? Make sure you do your homework right!
by SP Singh | 8 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the few previous posts, we discussed the importance of independent consultants in your Digital Transformation journey. They have a vital role to play. So, as a Project Sponsor, you must do your homework before hiring an independent consultant. The success of your...
Why do I need an independent consultant?
by SP Singh | 7 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Consider you decided to take your family to the next level of maturity. You booked a guided life transformation course. You will take your family to a lonely island for five nights. Your family will follow a unique set of activities every day. A dedicated life coach...
Failure is a great teacher, but there are better ways to learn!
by SP Singh | 6 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Failure is a great teacher. Failure opens up new doors for learning. However, one can learn from others' failures/experiences too. It is a much better way to learn. We often overestimate our capabilities. So, we do not seek professional assistance at the right time....
When should I hire an independent consultant?
by SP Singh | 5 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
So, you have decided to hire an independent consultant for your Digital Transformation initiatives. But, you may be thinking: When should I hire an independent consultant? It depends on what you want the consultant to do. To build the foundation for successful...
Do I need to hire an independent consultant?
by SP Singh | 4 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise software implementations are complex. The Project Sponsors often ponder this vital question: Do I need to hire an independent consultant? At the start, it looks easy. Internally, your staff shows enthusiasm and courage. Vendors assure you that you are in...
Why not to become a difficult customer?
by SP Singh | 3 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Vendors often label a few customers as difficult customers. Vendors label them as difficult because they: maybe demanding high standards of service, orchallenge the boundaries of the solution, orthey shout out when vendors do not deliver on their promiseskeep a...
Why do the Salespeople earn a bad name?
by SP Singh | 2 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
You must have heard the following phrases: Hello, this is not a sales call! I am not selling you anything! We are here to give you information only. We are not selling anything. What is wrong with selling? Why do Salespeople earn a bad name? Sales are projected as...
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion – Its implementation in enterprise software sales!
by SP Singh | 1 May 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last few posts, we discussed how the Enterprise software Sales team uses different tactics to influence you. These tactics are based on certain core principles. The book (Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion) beautifully covers these principles in detail. It...
Beware, social proof can magically fool you – The deadly game of enterprise software presales!
by SP Singh | 30 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There is a difference between your ‘need’ and a 'popular thing (or service)'. For example, a Toyota Land Cruiser is a famous four-wheel drive but may not fit your specific needs. It is not wise to buy a car based on its testimonials and popularity. Your selection...
Commitment and consistency trap – The deadly game of enterprise software presales!
by SP Singh | 29 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
When we commit to buying something, we are likely to purchase other related items too. For example, when we buy a mobile phone, there is a high probability of purchasing a phone's accessories and insurance. When we say yes – commit to something, we generally...
The Scarcity trap – The deadly game of enterprise software presales!
by SP Singh | 28 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Here is a proposal from the Sales team during the Enterprise Software sales meeting: I spoke with Asia Pacific Sales Head; we can offer you a massive 60 percent discount on the software licenses. You will be saving $200K. To save this amount, you must approve the...
The Authority trap – Deadly game of enterprise software presales!
by SP Singh | 27 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Consider the following pitch during the Enterprise Software sales meeting: We are one of the top Microsoft partners in the world! We have 60 offices across seven continents. In addition, we have a strong team of 500 consultants serving customers like Nike, Bose and...
The likability trap – Deadly game of enterprise software presales!
by SP Singh | 26 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We buy from the people we like. Enterprise software presales in no different. You will find that the presales team understands your business quite well. They say all the right things. They are patient, courteous, diligent, and even good looking too. They have all the...
Keep emotions in check while selecting enterprise software!
by SP Singh | 25 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Our emotions lead to buying decisions. Interestingly, it is seldom our rational mind. Enterprise software vendors are experts in getting you (The selection panel) excited about their product. You will hear some heavy words like Digital Transformation, Modern user...
Do you have a plan to procure enterprise software?
by SP Singh | 24 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Sellers have more experience in selling than the individual Buyer buying a fit-for-purpose product. Sellers have a well-defined structure, methodology and process for selling. On the other hand, buyers often have a vague desire or a problem. Suppose the Buyer does not...
How to avoid buying unsuitable enterprise software?
by SP Singh | 24 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise software (ERP/CRM) implementations are complex and costly. As significant money is involved, software vendors' and partners' focus remains on selling the software and implementation services to you. Sometimes their entire focus is to maximise sales...
Learning to be comfortable in the discomfort of breaking the norm!
by SP Singh | 22 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We are puppets of our habits. Unknowingly, our comfort is embedded in our everyday routines. Any disruption of our norm makes us uncomfortable. For example, I like to be very busy. If the workload decreases, I quickly get uncomfortable. So to get back to the norm, I...
How to deal with a non-responsive implementation partner?
by SP Singh | 21 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last post, we covered the importance of reference checks before signing the dotted lines. But, what in case you are stuck with a non-responsive implementation partner? Your company has already signed up and implementing enterprise software. However, the vendor...
Protect your business from empty promises of the salespeople
by SP Singh | 20 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise software implementations are extensive, complex and costly. As there is a lot of money involved, vendors do not always do the right thing. It is pervasive to see: The Salespeople promise the world, and the Delivery team struggles to deliver.The software...
Can the Project Objective change during the project?
by SP Singh | 19 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Here is a question for you: Can the Project Objective change during the project? Before we address this question, we must cover some basics. The Project Objective answers the fundamental question: Why are we executing the project? What is the purpose of the project?...
One thing that the Project Sponsor should never forget!
by SP Singh | 18 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Project Sponsors are busy individuals. They have their day job, leadership responsibilities and Project governance duties. As a Project Sponsor, you may have to make decisions with minimal information. Further, you ensure that the Project team is empowered and well...
Is your project progressing towards the set goal or drifting aimlessly?
by SP Singh | 18 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
How do you know if the project you are sponsoring is progressing towards the set goal or drifting aimlessly? Consider you are sponsoring an ERP upgrade project. The project team suggested ten additional requests (gaps) during the execution. The team also proposed to...
How do we control the additional scope?
by SP Singh | 16 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Everyone hates changing goalposts, yet most of us experience scope creep in projects. Customers ask for additional features, modules, and digital capabilities throughout the project. The vital question is: Is the addition of more scope a bad thing? Absolutely not - as...
Why do some projects keep on drifting away from the Go-Live date?
by SP Singh | 15 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
So here is the question for you! Why do some projects keep on drifting away from the Go-Live date? In other words, why do they keep on pushing out the Go-live date? There can be many reasons. However, one of the most common causes is adding scope to the project. As...
What is User experience in Enterprise software?
by SP Singh | 14 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
User experience (UX) is your experience interacting with the system. Enterprise software is inherently complex. These software products are broad enough to cover various industries. At the same time, they can be profound with the range of features and functionality....
Why do customers invest in technology?
by SP Singh | 13 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Ten years ago, if you ask me why do customers invest in technology? My response would have been – “Technology help customer solve business problems. It helps to relieve pain. The pain can be due to manual processes, lack of transparency, foresight etc.” However, this...
Form the Steering Committee! Preparing for the war!
by SP Singh | 12 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise software implementations are the war against the Status quo. The Project Sponsor is the General taking overall accountability. The Project Sponsor forms the core team to lead the war. The core team is called as Project Steering Committee or Project Board....
The best way to screw up as a Project Sponsor!
by SP Singh | 11 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We have already covered that the Project Sponsor is accountable for the Project. It is the default setup for the project organisation. The Project Sponsor has a heavy burden on his shoulders. The Project team reach out to the Sponsor to make critical decisions in time...
Who is to blame for the failed project?
by SP Singh | 10 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
No one likes to fail. However, if we fail, we love to blame someone or something for our failure. I cannot run 10K this week because of my shoes.I missed the bus due to traffic.No one loves me because they do not like to hear the truth about themselves. Let me make...
Who is accountable for the Digital project?
by SP Singh | 10 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It is one of the most critical and least understood questions. You need to know this as soon as the project work starts. i.e. Who is accountable for the Digital project? It is vital to know who is accountable for the project's success. Is it the Project Sponsor or...
Disarm people by disclosing your intent upfront!
by SP Singh | 8 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
How long will the project take to complete? Is it very complex? Have you managed such projects before? When we ask such questions, people try to make an assessment and judgement about our intention. They often feel vulnerable, insecure and often make wrong...
Why are we insulting the Agile Manifesto?
by SP Singh | 7 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The very first value of the Manifesto for Agile Software Development is – "Individuals and interactions over processes and tools". Yet, we are stuck on countless processes - Stand-ups, retrospectives, Sprint planning and Sprint reviews. Similarly, we debate tools like...
Digital Capacity is like electricity! It is no longer a matter of choice!
by SP Singh | 6 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
As a business executive, always have a long-term view for developing Digital Capacity. Digital Capacity is like electricity; you need it; the question is how much! Digital Capacity is the ability of the organisation to deliver value add digital solutions. To keep up...
Digital Transformation Vs Continuous Improvement! Which is better?
by SP Singh | 5 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Once upon a time, there were two champions, DT and CI. Both were dedicated and driven to their sport. DT was motivated to put an effort before the competition, transform his body and develop the strength to perform well. In contrast, CI developed systems, processes...
Why spend millions on Digital Transformation?
by SP Singh | 4 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital Transformation appears to be another cool thing. The big fours and their associates are shouting and screaming how transformation changes the world. The focus is to convince you to spend on Digital Transformation too. As if you don’t spend millions on Digital...
Why there is a need to invest in Digital Transformation?
by SP Singh | 3 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital Transformations are complex, risky and costly initiatives. So, why there is a need to invest in Digital Transformation? Why often do companies have no choice but to invest in Digital Transformation projects? Here are a few reasons: Shift in the Business Model...
What is Digital Capacity?
by SP Singh | 2 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital Capacity is the ability of the organisation to deliver value add digital solutions. As the organisation invests and enhances its efficiency to deliver IT solutions, its Digital Capacity improves. Consider a company implementing an enterprise solution...
ERP Implementation – The war against evil!
by SP Singh | 1 April 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Think of ERP implementation as a war against the evil ‘Status quo’. Trust me; this battle is not easy! Most like 'Status quo', as it gives comfort - there is no extra work for anyone. In contrast, ERP implementation causes pain, as there is a lot of change. For...
The side effects of project slippage!
by SP Singh | 31 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Try your best to stick to the project schedule and never allow project slippage. When the project slips and takes longer, it can have serious side effects. Let us examine the side effects of Project slippage: Changing world: The world around you is constantly...
Why do too many IT projects fail?
by SP Singh | 30 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Look, I am not going to share reasons why do too many IT projects fail! I am flipping the question and arguing that may be success criteria set for IT projects are often too immature. During project initiation, we know very little about the project. We set arbitrary...
Stop burning the project budget on useless features!
by SP Singh | 29 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It is pretty common to see the Project team spending massive effort developing a perfect feature, and no one uses it. Consider an example; a project team develops a new kiosk feature for visitor registration. However, the reception still uses manual registers. There...
What is the most significant risk before embarking on digital projects?
by SP Singh | 28 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Before embarking on digital projects, the most significant risk is – not starting at all! Executive procrastinates for years over digital initiatives. The status quo is too tempting for them. From the executive’s perspective, there is no risk as long as there is no...
Project success and failure depend on your decisions!
by SP Singh | 27 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The decisions you are making today will determine your tomorrow. Similarly, the decisions you are not taking will determine your future too. Digital Transformation projects are complex. The project success and failure depend on your decisions. The results take time,...
The saga of most enterprise software projects!
by SP Singh | 26 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Most enterprise software projects start well. Their project status remains green. So, the Project Managers report them to be on time, budget and acceptable quality. However, you see issues cropping up after consuming approximately 60% of project time and budget. The...
Best practice? You are kidding me!
by SP Singh | 25 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It makes sense to apply best practice to a procedural, repeatable task. But, best practice has no place in a dynamic environment like battlefields or transformation projects. The best practice tells you to follow specific procedures to get an average result. The best...
What is the best way to implement change in your organisation?
by SP Singh | 24 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Let us be clear, there is no silver bullet! The best way to implement change depends on many factors. However, the 'best way' is straightforward. The best way is when you do not have to do much work. Instead, your organisation turns to an army of self-motivated...
Change resistance can be for good reasons!
by SP Singh | 23 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The resistance to change can be for good reasons. The Change Managers often assume to be on the right side and driving the change. However, they could well be wrong. Quite possibly, change resistance can be for good reasons! People may have rational grounds to resist...
Change Management must start from empathy!
by SP Singh | 22 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Prosci ADKAR Change Management model starts with 'Awareness – of the need for change'. Korter 8 – step process for leading change begins with ‘Create a sense of urgency.’ Why don’t we start by first understanding people who will be going through the change? How about...
Change Manager does not manage change!
by SP Singh | 22 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Change Manager does not manage change! Why do we assume that the Change Manager is responsible for managing the change? The Change Manager does not manage change! There is no need to manage change in isolation. Instead, we need to influence people, so they adopt...
The problem of looking at the new world with the old pair of glasses!
by SP Singh | 20 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It may be new software, a fashion trend, or something unique; people struggle to adopt it. It is not because there is anything wrong. It is primarily due to the problem of looking at the new world with the old pair of glasses! Time and time again, the same phenomena...
Sometimes no action is a good thing!
by SP Singh | 20 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Yes, sometimes proactively observing without any action is a smart move! You know that the kids often complain when they go to a new class or school. When we move to the new house, we sometimes discuss the new place's shortcomings We often complain when we look at...
Jump in the pool!
by SP Singh | 19 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Around a year ago, we changed our daughter's swim school. During her lessons, I usually check social media, listen to a book, or write thoughts on my Note10. One day, I met one of my Punjabi friends. He was there with the swimming gear. Unfortunately, swimming is not...
Why should you seriously consider a decentralised support model for your ERP?
by SP Singh | 17 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
When an ERP project completes, we may celebrate and jump to the next big thing. However, there is often no major thought and provisioning for ongoing ERP development. The fact is that when you complete the ERP implementation, you barely utilise roughly 60% of ERP...
ERP is nothing but an enterprise information processing machine!
by SP Singh | 16 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
It is true, ERP is nothing but an enterprise information processing machine! All departments of your company enter data in ERP (raw material). The ERP processes the data (based on set rules) and produces information (output). The good thing is that this machine can...
Project Teams crumble due to poor leadership!
by SP Singh | 15 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Project Teams flourish due to their great leaders. At the same time, Project Teams crumble due to poor leadership. Leaders (irrespective of the job title) are the pillars that support their team. The great leaders: do the heavy loading while staying calmlisten while...
Beware, ERP implementation is a start, not an end!
by SP Singh | 14 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We often think of ERP implementation as a tick on the corporate checklist. Once ERP implementation is complete, that is it! There is no foresight to improve ERP usage, data quality or implement additional modules. Note that the ERP implementation is a start, not an...
Not maintaining enterprise software? Why living in a filthy house?
by SP Singh | 13 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Consider you have constructed a new house. You moved in and found the construction and migration process quite overwhelming. So, you never cleaned the house. You ignored the ongoing needs of your family members to live comfortably in the house. You did not make any...
What are the side effects of the delay in the project completion?
by SP Singh | 13 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital projects have a terrible reputation of taking longer than planned time and budget. As a Project Sponsor, you must ensure that your project completes on time. When your project takes longer than the planned time, it can also suffer from other side effects. The...
The life-changing act of kindness
by SP Singh | 11 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The plane landed at one of the remote mining towns. I was visiting the client’s office for enterprise analysis. The office was 45 minutes drive from the airport. One of the client’s employees was kind enough to pick me up from the airport. After a quick introduction,...
Why does the Critical path matter?
by SP Singh | 10 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last post, we have covered the meaning of the Critical path. We have established that the Critical path is the chain of interdependent tasks. But why does Critical Path matter? The Critical Path matters because delays on the tasks that are on the Critical path...
What is the Critical path?
by SP Singh | 9 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The digital world is full of jargon! One of the key terms that Project Sponsors must understand is the Critical path. Let us explore – What is the critical path in a project? The project is a collection of tasks that must run logically. Moreover, they must be in...
Are we celebrating the special days for a real change, publicity or ticking a box?
by SP Singh | 8 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We have so many special days to celebrate – Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, International Women’s Day. In a different part of the world, we celebrate days to commemorate wars, peace treaties and special events. The question is, are we celebrating the special days for a...
How manual information processing affects your Business?
by SP Singh | 7 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Let us first understand manual information processing! It is processing information outside the Business system (ERP/CRM). For example, if the Procurement manager disregards PO suggestions and manually manages the process. Similarly, consider the Sales managers...
How to master your tools? Tips to learn about Business systems?
by SP Singh | 7 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the previous post, we have established that you must understand the purpose and use of business systems within your domain. For example, the Procurement manager should know the capabilities of the Procurement software and its use. This post will uncover a few tips...
Not knowing the tools for your job is incompetence!
by SP Singh | 5 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Imagine a Dentist who does not know about Dental Drill. How about a Plumber who does not know about a wrench? It sounds like they must be very incompetent! Not knowing the tools for your job is incompetence. However, for office jobs, we readily accept this...
We are not our job title!
by SP Singh | 4 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Often, we label ourselves and others with a job title. I am a Senior Architect!I am a Doctor!She is a Receptionist! We are not our job title! We are much more profound and real. On the world’s stage, we are just playing our job role. We are not our job role! Let us...
Leaders! Manual information handling is a crime!
by SP Singh | 3 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Business executives! It is your fault if the staff is still manually handling information. When Business systems (ERP) are available to process information, why does anyone has to deal with manual spreadsheets, emails, and reports? Why is there a need to print paper,...
Experts are telling half-truths to gain our attention!
by SP Singh | 2 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
For the weight loss, the health experts are telling half-truths by the statements like: It does not matter what you eat, but what matters is when you eat! You must have a calorie deficit to reduce weightStop calorie counting; not all calories are the sameWhich one of...
We do not resist change; we resist hard work!
by SP Singh | 1 March 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Yes, we do not resist change; we resist hard work! The hard work is in learning the new system and processes. We are our habits. Changing and adopting new practices is painful. So, we end up resisting the proposed change. One of the ways to overcome Change resistance...
How to beat selective listening by repetition?
by SP Singh | 28 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We grow up, but we continue to be kids in many ways. Like kids, we selectively pay attention to the information that interests us. We smartly ignore the information that we don't want to listen. So, how to deal with selective listening? How do we make sure staff and...
How to Focus on the right things to make a real difference?
by SP Singh | 27 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last post, we covered that our Focus drives our energy. Focusing on the right things make a real difference. It helps us to make better choices.But how to focus on the right things? Here are a few thoughts: Kill ‘I’ thinking: By default, most of us think about...
Focus drives our energy! Where is your focus?
by SP Singh | 26 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There can be multiple routes to a destination. Few routes are better than others. The question is, how do we find better ways to achieve our goal? Stop and think about your focus because our focus drives our energy! Suppose your goal can be to save money. Are you...
We all are artists! Let’s make amazing art!
by SP Singh | 25 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We all are artists, making a small contribution to a big piece of art. We may be working or not; we still are artists. Our art is our work, support, leadership, coaching and service. To perform our art, we rely on the art of others. Similarly, others rely on our art....
The project is over the baseline budget! Is it a terrible thing?
by SP Singh | 24 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
I decided to build a house. After a few consultations with the Builder, we signed a contract. The baseline budget for the project was $1M. The construction started. The Site Supervisor suggested some incredible enhancements during the construction. As the house is...
ERP projects are not about innovation!
by SP Singh | 23 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
ERP projects are not about innovation. You should not waste time innovating the best Order to Cash process during implementation. Instead, adapt to the standard process that the ERP offers. The standard processes should fit well if you have selected the right ERP...
What is the top benefit of using ERP software?
by SP Singh | 22 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
ERP systems offer one solution to meet the end-to-end business needs of the organisation. Let us unpack this! ERP systems consist of multiple modules (like Finance, Manufacturing, Sales). These modules are designed to work with each other seamlessly. Therefore, the...
Packaged software is like a ‘Home and Land’ package!
by SP Singh | 21 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The packaged solution is also known as Commerical Of The Shelf (COTS) software. It includes specialised software (Expense Management, Field Services) or Enterprise applications (ERP, CRM, HCM and EAM). The packaged software is like a Home and Land package because the...
The alignment of strategy is everything!
by SP Singh | 20 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Many organisations waste effort developing their disjointed Business and IT strategy. Great organisations, however, create a business strategy and the strategy for every other dimension (e.g. strategy for customer experience, procurement). Further, they ensure their...
Why do we only worry about Business and IT Strategy?
by SP Singh | 19 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Business and IT strategies are most common in organisations. So the question is, why do we only worry about Business and IT strategy? Is that all we need? Why don’t we look at strategy with a broader context? How about: Strategy for Customers?Strategy for...
Rituals without the right intentions are useless!
by SP Singh | 18 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The value is within our intent; the rituals only help us consistently perform. Our daily, religious, workplace rituals serve the same purpose. They enforce us to show up regularly. However, if we have a weak intent, rituals add no value. Consider the world of the...
Continuous Business improvement is a mindset, not a process!
by SP Singh | 17 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Average organisations think of employees as fruit. Their focus is on squeezing more juice to increase profitability. In this environment, everyone behaves like a busy assembly line worker. Repeating the same work over and again without understanding its value. The...
What is the simplest way to influence your team?
by SP Singh | 16 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
As leaders, we want to influence our teams. You may want them to be more bold, adaptive or resilient. You may like to see them working hard and learning new skills. So, what is the simplest way to influence your team? The simplest and most effective way is to start...
Seriously consider upgrading your existing ERP! New toys cost a fortune!
by SP Singh | 15 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
ERP implementations are costly and complex. Seriously consider upgrading your existing ERP rather than implementing another system. The following are a few emotional statements you may hear within your business. Gather facts and check if upgrading ERP is the more...
How to ensure returns on investment on software implementation?
by SP Singh | 14 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise software implementations are complex. It is often challenging to realise the benefits of capital expenditure. There can be many reasons for low Returns On Investment (ROI). Even if the project team has developed a product that meets the business needs, ROI...
What are the top 5 reasons for passive change resistance?
by SP Singh | 13 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Passive change resistance is one of the top reasons for digital assets underutilisation. Find out more on this here. So, what are the reasons for passive change resistance? Why do staff avoid adopting change? Why do end-users not fully utilise the business systems?...
Why do we underutilise digital assets?
by SP Singh | 12 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There can be many reasons why we underutilise digital assets. An example of underutilisation is, using emails for customer communications instead of using a CRM system. But why do we underutilise digital assets? Among many reasons, the passive change resistance is...
Underutilisation of digital assets! A sheer waste!
by SP Singh | 11 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Humans love to acquire stuff. The brain chemicals give us a sense of achievement and rewards. However, we struggle to make necessary changes in our lives to fully utilise things that we acquire. Here are a few examples: We buy big SUVs (4X4s) and seldom take them to...
How to keep it simple? Get simple people on the team!
by SP Singh | 10 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last few posts, I have covered: Importance of - Keep it simple!Why do we complicate things?How to keep it simple in projects?Importance of defining project objective to keep things simple! This post is about getting the right people on the Project team who love...
How to keep it simple? Laser focus on the project objective!
by SP Singh | 9 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Continuing our ‘ keep it simple ’ series. We now know the root cause of complexity. You understand that it is not about you (‘I’ thinking). So, you now have a solid foundation! The next step is to develop - a laser focus on the project objective. You must have clarity...
How to keep it simple? It starts with you!
by SP Singh | 8 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We covered that as a Project Sponsor, you must keep things simple. The complexity of human interaction is the biggest challenge in any project. We also discussed that ‘I’ thinking is the underlying root cause of complexity. ‘I’ thinking is protecting and glorifying...
Why do we complicate things? Top reason you must know!
by SP Singh | 7 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last post, we covered that Project sponsors must keep things simple in the project. Complexity is one of the most significant challenges within technology projects. But, the complexity is generally not due to the technical challenges. Instead, it is because of...
What is the most crucial thing for the project sponsors? Keep it simple!
by SP Singh | 6 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Keep it simple! Yes, that is right; success is yours if you keep things simple throughout the project! It appears that humans have a general tendency to complicate things. Here are a few common examples: During project start, the project roles and responsibilities are...
Are you wasting time seeking permission or taking action?
by SP Singh | 6 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Yesterday, I sat on the APMG Level Up panel of the live Q&A. The topic was how to become a Business Analyst? You can find more here. From the live questions, few want to learn about the Business Analysis profession. It appears that many want to become Business...
Consultants do not ask – ‘What do you want?’
by SP Singh | 4 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The security alarm technician knocked on the door. After a quick assessment of the house, he asked – ‘Where you like the motion sensors to go?’ I was not prepared for the question. So, I asked back where they should go? He said, ‘Hmmm, you have four sensors in the...
Beware! Use the right tools for the job!
by SP Singh | 3 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
After much push from my wife, I endeavour to drill a hole in the wall to hang a picture frame. Yes, I hate doing this stuff! So, I picked up a random drill bit and hit it hard into the wall. I was impressed by the strength of the wall. After much trying, I was unable...
Why does Minimal Viable Project Scope matter?
by SP Singh | 2 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
In the last few posts, we covered what Minimal Viable Project Scope (MVPS) is and how it is different from Minimal Viable Product (MVP)? Let us discuss why does Minimal Viable Project Scope matter? Why should you even spend time thinking about MVPS? Let’s go! Let us...
What is the difference between Minimal Viable Product (MVP) and Minimum Viable Project Scope (MVPS)?
by SP Singh | 1 February 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Minimum Viable Product is a popular term. The term is widely used among the Agile community. I have introduced a Minimum Viable Project Scope in the last few posts. So, what is the difference between Minimal Viable Product (MVP) and Minimum Viable Project Scope...
What is Minimum Viable Project Scope (MVPS)?
by SP Singh | 31 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The Minimum Viable Project Scope (MVPS) is the minimum possible project scope for a meaningful project. The intent of MVPS is not to do everything at once. Instead, break down the overall work into manageable, logical projects that offer business value and minimise...
Technology project never ends! How long is the piece of string?
by SP Singh | 30 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Technology projects are complex! Throughout the project, the Sponsor has to deal with many challenges. Near the end of the project, you may find that the project is stuck. You are making progress, but it is too slow. The project is not coming to an end. Many Project...
Do I need an ERP system for my business?
by SP Singh | 30 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Are you thinking to invest in an ERP system? Are you not too sure if you need an ERP system for your business? Let us explore. Holistically, a business with over 30 staff and a $10M turnover should seriously consider implementing ERP. There are other factors for your...
Why are software projects never under budget?
by SP Singh | 28 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
As a customer, you love to see the software projects delivered under budget. So then, why is it so that the projects are seldom completed under the set budget? Think from the software vendor’s perspective! When the project budget is $1M, the vendors forecast $1M+...
Are you underutilising your enterprise software? 7 point checklist!
by SP Singh | 27 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There are many reasons you are underutilising your enterprise software. However, you should not take this lightly, as it costs your business. The following are the reasons you are not fully utilising current enterprise software. 1. You are paying subscription/ AMC on...
Thinking about changing enterprise software? Save yourself from pain!
by SP Singh | 26 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There are many reasons organisations change their enterprise software (ERP/CRM). Often companies grow, and existing software cannot support and scale with them. There can be other reasons, like the vendor's existing software is no longer supported (EoL). More often,...
Digital Transformation, by accident! Shocking but true!
by SP Singh | 25 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Most SMEs get on to the Digital Transformation journey by accident. Phase – 1 starts with the implementation of enterprise software. Phase – 2 is to clear Phase – 1 mess and add a few new Digital capabilities. Finally, the organisation slowly improves its Digital...
What are the Digital Transformation Services?
by SP Singh | 24 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital Transformation is a complicated business. One of the questions that I often hear is: What are the Digital Transformation Services? In other words, the different types of services Digital Transformation vendors offer? You may be tempted to fire this question on...
Great leaders prepare for a hot day! Stupid ones give marching orders!
by SP Singh | 23 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Sunday morning, a hot day in sunny Perth, we rocked up for Malaysian breakfast with our friends. We were having a great time. Kids had a casual play; we were chatting on a few important topics. Topics that do not require much brainpower. You know what I mean? Casually...
Do not leave for the Digital Transformation journey alone!
by SP Singh | 22 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Do you know anyone jumping into the ocean without professional training or support? Imagine the disaster if an unlicensed driver drives a car without a professional instructor. Then, why do many SMEs endeavours to implement Enterprise (ERP/CRM) software without...
Why closing your project with elegance is so essential?
by SP Singh | 21 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The following two project stages are super crucial. So, Sponsors should pay extra attention: StartEnd Project Start: The start of the project is where you set the project's foundation. It is so crucial that I have a complete book for you. Project End: The project team...
Why do we miscommunicate? #1 reason!
by SP Singh | 20 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The projects world is full of miscommunications and confusion. Technology projects often have diverse stakeholders. They come from different technical areas, geographies and cultures. So, effective communication within the team and stakeholders is usually a big...
Digital Capability is all about implementing software! Really?
by SP Singh | 19 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
One of the main misconceptions is that Digital Capability is all about implementing software. Organisations think that they can invest in digital assets (software/hardware) to develop Digital Capability. For example, suppose the organisation wants to develop a new...
Digital Transformation and Digital Capability! What is the relation between them?
by SP Singh | 18 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
What is the relationship between Digital Transformation and Digital Capability? So often, we loosely use these terms. Let us first start with the definition: What is Digital Transformation? Digital Transformation is the initiative to make a fundamental change in the...
What is Digital Maturity?
by SP Singh | 17 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital Maturity measures the organisation's ability to assess, adapt and implement technology solutions For example, the higher is the organisation's Digital Maturity. The higher is its ability to assess the technology needs of its business. Similarly, the enterprise...
What Is Digital Capability?
by SP Singh | 16 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital Capability is the measure of the sophistication of the organisation to execute a given business process digitally For example, the organisation can seamlessly manage end-to-end Customer onboarding processes through a software application. Therefore, we may...
Whom Should I Hire To Kick Start Digital Transformation Initiative?
by SP Singh | 15 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The Digital Transformation journey can be pretty daunting. It is often difficult to plan where to start. One of the usual questions that Sponsor wonder is: Whom should I hire to kick start Digital Transformation initiative? Let us first understand your needs. So, what...
Digital Transformation Takes Time! Be Patient!
by SP Singh | 14 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Digital Transformation takes time. It is not a six-month project. It is also not the implementation of a few software products. Digital Transformation is like a significant refurbishing of a house. First, you start with what you have. Then, you plan the future design...
The Software Project Has Gone Wrong!
by SP Singh | 13 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The Project Sponsors often know too late that the software project has gone wrong. Look, it takes at least a couple of months to deliver a software project. So, it is not that these projects go wrong overnight. The project team are the first one to sense it. They...
How Digital Transformation Improves Customer Experience? Learn With Practical Example!
by SP Singh | 12 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There is much hype about Digital Transformation. Technology vendors often claim it is the next big thing to be a game-changer. Really? You must understand practically how your business can benefit from Digital Transformation. Let us see how Digital Transformation...
Why Should I Bother About Digital Transformation?
by SP Singh | 11 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
The following is a common question asked by Business executives and sponsors: Why Should I Bother About Digital Transformation? Digital Transformation is not the next big thing that every business should invest in. The question is how do you know if you should be...
Digital Transformation Myths! Watch, Ruthlessly Blowing Away 7 Of Them!
by SP Singh | 10 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
There are many Digital Transformation myths. These myths are our unstated assumptions that we believe are true. As a sponsor, you must know what Digital Transformation is all about. Review the following non-exhaustive list of Digital Transformation myths: 1. Digital...
Is Digital Transformation Worth It? You Must Know This!
by SP Singh | 9 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Is Digital Transformation Worth It? Unfortunately, it is one of the first questions that sponsors stumble. Digital Transformations are risky. Is it worth the pain? Why should you even bother? My humble option is - it depends! It depends on many things; a few are...
Do We Use Digital Transformation As A Buzzword? Revealing The Bitter Truth!
by SP Singh | 8 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
By all means, we can use Digital Transformation as a buzzword! Digital Transformation is not well defined. So, customer and vendor organisations loosely use the term. Therefore, it can mean different things to different people. Here are a few points to consider: Are...
Business Transformation Vs Digital Transformation!
by SP Singh | 7 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
We often use both Business and Digital Transformation interchangeably. Business Transformation Vs Digital Transformation - they are fundamentally different! The following table lists the key differences: Business Transformation Vs Digital Transformation Business...
What Is Business Transformation?
by SP Singh | 6 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Business Transformation is the initiative to make a fundamental change in the business through changes in the Business model. It is a business initiative to change the existing Business model to reinvigorate the company. There can be many underlying reasons for...
What Is Digital Transformation?
by SP Singh | 5 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
What is Digital Transformation? Digital Transformation is the initiative to make a fundamental change in the business through digital capabilities. It is a business initiative to automate business processes through the use of technology. For example, automate end to...
Are Meetings A Waste Of Time?
by SP Singh | 4 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Are meetings a waste of time? We meet people for two-way communication. Thus, listening is the critical part of a meeting. Meetings are a waste of time if you only speak and do not listen. It goes back to your intent. If you intend to communicate and listen to...
Technology has moved on, but we are still there!
by SP Singh | 4 January 2022 | Home | 0 Comments
Technology has moved on.....! Technology has made rapid giant leaps in every dimension. For instance, we have moved from mainframes to the cloud in computing. The advancement is in every aspect of the hardware and software industry. Moreover, there are no signs of...
Is Project Management A Science Or Art?
by SP Singh | 17 December 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Is project management a science or art? A common question that people ask. Without a doubt, Project Management is science as well as art. Let us unwrap! Project Management is a science Look at the following aspects: 1. Project methodologies and frameworks They have...
Can We Automate This? My 2 Cents To This Popular Question!
by SP Singh | 15 December 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
It is one of the most common questions I get asked during business analysis: Can we automate this? The business stakeholders often ask if we can automate the existing manual process? The underlying question remains the same. But, they ask it in different ways. My...
Cost Of Delay! How Much Sitting On A Decision Costs You?
by SP Singh | 14 December 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
As a business executive, your job is to make decisions. While you hold a position of power, you may get away by not making timely decisions. You may blame lack of information, uncertainty in business or another excuse. The fact is that you hold a position of power to...
Why Software Projects Are Too Expensive? 2 Crazy Little Secrets You Must Know!
by SP Singh | 9 December 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Yes, the software projects are too expensive to implement. Especially, enterprise (ERP/CRM) and packaged (COTS) software. Let us see why? Look, the two major costs for software implementations are: Software Vendors costProfessional services (Consulting, Development,...
Software Estimate Facts – 8 Dumb Facts Will Make You Smart!
by SP Singh | 2 December 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Software estimate facts? What is so special about them? 80% of executives I speak to are still missing the point. So, here is a blog post, uncovering software estimate facts! The software estimate is an approximate measure of work needed to complete the given scope....
Why the heck You need To Manage Software Vendors?
by SP Singh | 24 November 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise software implementations require software vendors. You will be spending a considerable amount on Professional services with these vendors. So, before engaging them, make sure they are trustworthy. You may also need a client-side Project Manager (PM). The...
6 Signs Of Toxic Project Managers Poisoning The Culture!
by SP Singh | 22 November 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Project Sponsors, watch out for the following traits of the toxic Project Managers. If your Project Managers are high on the toxicity scale, then protect your team and the culture. Otherwise, the stress levels of the project team and stakeholders will skyrocket. There...
Manage Your Expectations! 6 Things That Will Go Wrong!
by SP Singh | 18 November 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Enterprise software implementations are never a smooth sail. There are unknowns, bitter surprises, issues that you often deal with. But, as a Project Sponsor, you must be at the forefront. Tell yourself that it is not going to be easy because it may not! Manage your...
No one wants Vanilla! Secure Enough Budget For Customisations!
by SP Singh | 7 November 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Are you sponsoring an enterprise software project? The key message is: Secure enough budget for customisations and enhancements. Don't believe in the claims that standard enterprise software will fully meet your business needs. During the sales process, you may hear:...
What is Project Budget? Hidden Truth Revealed!
by SP Singh | 30 October 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
We treat software implementations like construction projects. The fact is that the software projects are much more dynamic and fluid. There are many aspects. But, let us consider Project Budget, for example. Of course, we understand the Project Budget as the estimated...
Problem Vs Requirement – The Top Budget Killer!
by SP Singh | 25 October 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Problem Vs Requirement - do you know the difference? When you visit a doctor, he asks for symptoms of your problem. He then writes a prescription to solve your problem. Note that he does not ask about your needs or requirements. Note the difference between Problem Vs...
Software Selection: The Deceptive World of Software Sales!
by SP Singh | 20 October 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
If you are deciding on Enterprise software for your organisation, then read this carefully! Welcome to the deceptive world of Software Sales Look, if you are not vigilant, you can make a terrible decision very quickly. During software selection, you are dealing with...
Celebrate Project Closure With Heart And Soul! Your Team Will Love You For It!
by SP Singh | 17 October 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
How to celebrate project closure with heart and Soul? We often start projects with a kick-off but seldom finish them with celebration. Very few projects are lucky enough to meet a graceful end, and the team sit together and celebrate. Why is that? Maybe, you as...
How To Define Change? Insanely, We Don’t!
by SP Singh | 24 August 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Define Change? I bet you are wondering what does that even mean! Let us start with the basics! Tell me, why is change management such a complex area? Is it complicated, or do we make it so? Look, there are many reasons for the complexity within change management. But,...
Why We Resist Change? Revealing #1 Hidden And Profound Reason!
by SP Singh | 11 August 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/nGv1fNUgqmM Do you resist change? Do you know others who resist change? Suppose you rock up to the office and see a letter on your desk. The letter states that you are getting a dedicated luxury cabin in two months. You will have a choice of working...
How To Prioritise? 8 Steps To Stop Making Painful Mistakes!
by SP Singh | 25 July 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn7zrKLxVcA Life does not give us everything we want. Resources are always limited, whereas demands are beyond the limit. How to prioritise is a must-have skill for everyone! I still remember my school days, having five bucks in hand...
Why Scrum Sucks? Insane Reasons Killing Your Project Right Now!
by SP Singh | 18 July 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txvBBkqm6I8 In the last decade, there has been phenomenal uptake of Scrum in the software industry. It has almost become a fashion statement for customer and vendor organisations. Oh! Do you do Agile?Yes! We use Agile, Scrum. We also...
How To Check Project Estimates? Revealing 10 Secret Points!
by SP Singh | 11 July 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rNS0boNxek As a Project Sponsor, you are responsible for approving the Statement of Work (SOW). Before signing the SOW, you must thoroughly check project estimates. Checking the quality of effort estimate (cost) is one of the most...
How To Search Enterprise Software Online? Save Time And Prevent Headache!
by SP Singh | 4 July 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKbCzb4_p1M Are you searching for enterprise software for your business or department? You may be wondering what to enter in Google to search enterprise software? Which words, phrases, keywords to search? Often you doubt if you are...
ERP Selection – The Quick and Dirty Way!
by SP Singh | 29 May 2021 | Visioning and Selection | 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/Uwe7mGuOQy4 You can waste months and spend thousands on ERP selection for your business. The fact is that conventional vendor selection often does more harm than good. There is a better way to choose vendors much quicker and intelligently. Caution:...
How To Reduce ERP Project Cost? Revealing One Of The Best Way!
by SP Singh | 15 May 2021 | Project Execution | 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/c6jtBq0mZ1A This is the #1 question that every Project Sponsor is asking! How can we reduce ERP Project cost? A significant chunk of ERP cost is the consulting services. If you are serious to reduce ERP project cost, this is where we should be...
How To Review Statement of Work? Never Miss These 6 Checkpoints!
by SP Singh | 10 May 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/kRmgLfl8F20 As a customer Project Sponsor, you cannot afford to overlook Statement of Work (SOW). SOW is one of the most critical documents in ERP implementations. It includes detailed information about project scope, estimate, timeline, role and...
How To Implement ERP? 4 Insanely Simple Steps!
by SP Singh | 26 April 2021 | Project Execution | 0 Comments
Implementing ERP for your business can be a challenging initiative. You often wonder where to start, whom to talk to? Questions such as how to implement ERP, implementation time, investment, forming a project team may often overwhelm you. As a sponsor of the project,...
Why We Need ERP? These 11 Reasons Will Reveal Hidden Value!
by SP Singh | 23 March 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
Clarity on purpose is vital for any investment. Investing in ERP is a crucial decision for a business. So before investing in ERP we must understand why we need ERP? This post reveals 11 solid reasons why you need ERP. Before going any further, do you know what is...
What is ERP? Insanely Simple Stuff You Must Know!
by SP Singh | 12 February 2021 | Home | 0 Comments
ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. The name suggests that the software help organisations for resource planning. It is misleading as ERP have grown much more profound and prominent over the years. ERPs do much more than resource planning. So, what is ERP? It...
What Are The Roles In ERP Project Team? 14 Unique Roles For Solid Delivery!
by SP Singh | 20 November 2020 | Visioning and Selection | 0 Comments
ERP Projects are complex. The composition of the ERP Project Team is not always clear. It is one of the most asked questions. In the post, I will cover the various roles within ERP Project Team. Refer to the following list of roles you may need for your ERP Project....
What Is The Top Reason For ERP Project Failure?
by SP Singh | 14 November 2020 | Project Execution | 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/NyVLVaSSFDQ ERP Project Failure Many Enterprise software (ERP/CRM) projects are failing due to this single problem! During Analysis, Customers often prescribe ‘Solution design’ rather than ‘Requirements’ to ERP Consultants. You cannot afford to ignore...
How To Estimate ERP Project? Download A Free Estimator!
by SP Singh | 2 November 2020 | Home | 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/ZPpO_IXV_tI ERP implementations are complex. There are many moving parts. As a Sponsor, you must look at the big picture and need a 360-degree view of project costs. However, you often find it difficult to get a firm project estimate. As there are...
Key Software Terms You Must Know – Welcome To The Tribe!
by SP Singh | 15 October 2020 | Home, Visioning and Selection | 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/bfyd88rABHA No one likes jargon! But every industry has it. My heart pumps 10X when I hear Accounting teams in quick succession. Oh, we need to look at our Cashflow, EBIT and rethink Chart Of Account structure. For this, my brain may register – There...
What Is The Purpose Of ERP Dashboards? Beware, Executives!
by SP Singh | 12 September 2020 | Home | 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/UD_4D--uBdA Would you consider buying a Tesla fitted with a vintage car dashboard? Weird question! Isn't it? Any modern car dashboard must make driving easy. The information should be right in front of you and when you need it. Now, let me share a...
