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Implementation Management
Every project, no matter the magnitude or scale, must be completed under three critical restraints -- Scope, Time and Budget. Scope relates to the project size, goals and deliverables, Time relates to the period required to support the project “go live” date. And the Budget defines the projected investment to be made by the client in support of the new solution.
Project management is the business process utilized by Crestwood to manage the restraints so that a positive outcome is delivered to a client. Project management revolves around three key organizational elements:
- Business: Projects must be aligned with and support the organization’s strategic goals and objectives
- People: Projects revolve around people, which includes the project manager, stakeholders, and the project team
- Tools and Technology: Projects rely on the resources at hand to plan, control, schedule, and track project progress
Project Stages
As part of the Microsoft Sure Step methodology, Crestwood manages projects and their associated restraints utilizing the following processes and components:
- Project initiation stage
- Project planning or design stage
- Project execution or production stage
- Project monitoring and controlling systems
- Project completion stage
Project Initiation: The business problem or opportunity is identified and a business case is developed. All stakeholders come together to establish preliminary agreement around project scope, costs, and expected timelines.
Project Planning: Project plans are established outlining activities, resource requirements, tasks, project deliverables, etc. A preliminary project schedule (i.e. Work Breakdown Structure) is drafted and approved by the client.
Project Execution: This is where the bulk of the project work is completed. During this phase, customer requirements are gathered, a solution is agreed upon by all stakeholders, and/or selection/procurement begins. While the actual project plan is being executed, a series of management processes are also underway to monitor and control project progress and deliverables and to ensure the project stays on track.
Project Monitoring and Control: Regularly measuring and monitoring project progress; making sure project objectives are on track and being met. Variances from the project plan are identified and corrective action is taken when necessary.
Project Closure: The project is delivered to the customer. A post-implementation review is conducted to determine the level of success of the project and to highlight key lessons learned for future projects. For example:
- Did the project deliver on time, within budget, and to scope and quality requirements?
- Were the customer, project stakeholders, and project team members satisfied with the project deliverables?
- Did the project achieve the expected business benefits?
Project Manager
All Crestwood projects, especially those that involve the implementation and consulting for Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) and/or Dynamics CRM, are managed on a daily basis by a dedicated Project Manager. The Crestwood Project Manager is assigned for the lifecycle of the project and is responsible for managing the Scope, Time and Budget in order to deliver the project per the agreed upon “go live” date. A successful project manager must simultaneously manage the three restraints and ensure the quality of the project’s final deliverable. All constraints must be managed together if the project, and the Project Manager, are to be successful.
The Crestwood Project Manager is an experienced implementation consultant who has spent years delivering the Microsoft Dynamics GP and Dynamics CRM solutions. By leveraging the Microsoft Sure Step methodology, the Crestwood Project Manager is able to use their experience to effectively and efficiently lead the joint client/Crestwood implementation team to success.
Contact Crestwood Associates, your Chicago, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana source for successful consulting engagements and effectively managed implementations.
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