In need of an implementation methodology

[doctor2001]

In need of an implementation methodology

Hi –

We are starting a Great Plains Implementation and want to save on the consulting costs as much as possible. I am really having a tough time finding reference papers and “How to” solutions if any one could refer me to some implementation plans it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[mpd23]

A bit more information would narrow the field a bit.

1. Is this an installation at a brand new company or a replacement system?
2. What GP modules are you intending to install?
3. Has your accounts team been involved in the selection of GP?
4.Do any of your accounts team have experience of GP?


General Comments about installs

1. Be very frightened of the Gungho Accountant (they do exist, believe me), especially if they are brought in for 'The Project'. They want to make a name for themselves, will not be around to pick up the pieces when it all goes pear shaped and have absolutely no idea how your company works.
2. Involve the users early and often, these people know the existing accounts system and the accounting requirements within the company.
3. There is a lot of work required before a cd goes into a drive. The GL structure, tax schedules, debtor and creditor code structures, pre-printed stationery layouts, reporting requirements etc etc..
4. Create a test environment and allow enough time for your users to work with it and use it to develop the items at 3 above. Try to retain as much of any earlier structure as possible, it makes it easier for the accounts users to relate to the new system.
5. If your supplier is offering free training days with the contract, try and double it.
6. Moving to GP from most other accounts packages is a great shock to the accounts users, be patient. Don't get angry when they say, in Sage or Sun or whatever product, we could do this or that. They just don't know that in GP there are in fact 20 ways to do what they want, it is just not obvious
7. Be wary of the senior managers hogging the training, they will never ever write an FRx report, deign to sully their keyboards with a Smartlist report, nor remember any of the lookup methods. I had a manager who used up several training days and then used GP so infrequently that he forgot his login ID, even though it was his firstname
8. Train the users with the test data that looks like the company they will be using. The World Online is OK but it is better to use the design for the real company.
9. Do not train users a year before the install and expect them to remember it.
10. Sell this as an opportunity to increase the skill set of the accounts users, especially by getting them trained on the report writing
11. Allow enough time, remember the accounts users still have to do their existing tasks

A bit of a rant I know, but I was a user during an install and have been bitten by all of these problems and more.