orginally posted 27-April-2009 in the hris world blog

From my own 17+ years experiences, it all starts with the lack of proper planning and perspectives from the very beginning. The whole process leading up the RFP is usually not thorough enough as well as not drilled down enough -- many times a needs assessment involving an objective interview with the key end-users is done hap-hazardly or not done at all...

And WHO does this needs assessment can create beneficial and/or detremental impacts that can affect the project in a HUGE manner... Many times bringing in the 'experts' who perform needs assessments can contribute to unrealistic objectives for many reasons, particularly if none of those performing the needs assessment have never been involved even once in an implementation of such a system...

If defense of those that do perform the needs assessment properly and have dotted their I's and crossed their T's including the RFI and RFP documents, you never know what you need to know until you discover what you didn't know that you didn't know... you know? smiles...

Considering the spending involved, I am always amazed how little effort is given sometimes at getting a solid foundation. It takes effective and efficint senior leadership to lay the ground rules, define requirements and exercise the procurement process effectively.
Portions of this post provided by the thoughts of  John McGrann, Director at Kirsean Consulting Inc and owner of LinkedIn group Drive ERP.