Course Introduction
ERP implementation projects are among the most complex technology and business transformation initiatives because they simultaneously affect finance, procurement, human resources, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, inventory, asset management, reporting, and other critical business functions. This course provides a practical project management framework for planning, governing, controlling, and delivering ERP implementations while maintaining alignment between technology capabilities and organizational objectives.
Successful ERP delivery requires coordinated management of business requirements, process redesign, solution configuration, data migration, integrations, infrastructure, security, testing, training, change management, and deployment. Participants will learn how to structure an ERP implementation from project initiation and business case development through design, build, testing, cutover, go-live, stabilization, and benefits realization, with particular emphasis on managing cross-functional dependencies and maintaining implementation momentum.
The course develops practical capabilities in ERP project planning and controls, including work breakdown structures, integrated master schedules, resource plans, budget management, milestone tracking, critical-path analysis, risk registers, issue management, change control, quality assurance, and executive reporting. Participants will examine how to establish implementation baselines, coordinate functional and technical workstreams, monitor vendor performance, manage dependencies, and identify early warning indicators before they develop into major schedule, cost, or quality problems.
ERP projects frequently experience challenges involving unclear requirements, excessive customization, poor data quality, integration complexity, inadequate testing, weak stakeholder engagement, vendor performance issues, unrealistic implementation timelines, and resistance to process change. This course addresses these challenges through practical approaches to requirements governance, configuration management, scope control, data readiness, testing governance, risk management, decision escalation, stakeholder communication, and implementation assurance.
The people and process dimensions of ERP transformation receive significant attention throughout the course. Participants will explore business process ownership, organizational change, stakeholder alignment, user acceptance, training, communications, readiness assessment, adoption measurement, and operational transition. The course also addresses the coordination of business users, functional consultants, technical teams, system integrators, data specialists, cybersecurity teams, infrastructure professionals, vendors, and executive sponsors within a unified ERP governance structure.
Modern ERP programs increasingly use cloud platforms, SaaS delivery models, AI-assisted configuration, process mining, low-code extensions, automation, advanced analytics, intelligent testing, and AI-enabled project controls. Participants will examine how these technologies can improve ERP implementation planning, requirements analysis, data quality, testing, risk detection, reporting, user adoption, and post-go-live optimization while maintaining appropriate governance over cybersecurity, privacy, integrations, customization, responsible AI, and long-term platform sustainability.
Duration
5 days
Who Should Attend
-
ERP project managers responsible for implementing or upgrading enterprise resource planning platforms
-
Program managers coordinating large-scale ERP transformation and business modernization programs
-
PMO managers overseeing ERP governance, project controls, reporting, and implementation assurance
-
IT project managers managing ERP applications, infrastructure, integrations, and technical delivery
-
Business transformation managers leading ERP-enabled operating model and process transformation
-
ERP functional leads responsible for finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, or operations
-
Business analysts involved in ERP requirements, process mapping, solution validation, and acceptance
-
ERP solution architects coordinating functional, technical, data, integration, and security architecture
-
Data migration managers responsible for ERP data cleansing, mapping, transformation, and migration activities
-
ERP integration managers coordinating interfaces, APIs, middleware, and connected business applications
-
Testing and quality assurance managers responsible for ERP test strategy, execution, defects, and acceptance
-
Change management professionals supporting ERP adoption, organizational readiness, communications, and training
-
ERP implementation consultants and system integrators managing client delivery workstreams and milestones
-
Procurement and vendor management professionals overseeing ERP software suppliers and implementation partners
-
Project controls, risk, governance, audit, and assurance professionals supporting ERP implementation performance
Course Objectives
-
Develop comprehensive ERP implementation strategies that align technology delivery with business objectives, operating models, and measurable transformation benefits.
-
Build integrated ERP project plans covering requirements, process design, configuration, integrations, data migration, testing, training, deployment, and stabilization.
-
Apply effective project controls to manage ERP scope, schedule, budget, resources, dependencies, milestones, quality, risks, and implementation performance.
-
Analyze and structure ERP business requirements into manageable work packages while maintaining traceability from business needs through solution delivery.
-
Manage ERP vendors, system integrators, consultants, software providers, and internal teams through clear deliverables, responsibilities, governance, and performance measures.
-
Identify and mitigate ERP implementation risks involving data quality, customization, integration, cybersecurity, testing, stakeholder resistance, resources, and deployment readiness.
-
Establish effective ERP governance structures for decision-making, issue escalation, change control, executive reporting, quality gates, and implementation assurance.
-
Plan and coordinate ERP data migration, integration testing, user acceptance testing, cutover, go-live, hypercare, stabilization, and transition to operations.
-
Strengthen stakeholder engagement, organizational change, communications, training, and adoption practices to support sustainable ERP transformation and business process improvement.
-
Evaluate emerging AI, cloud ERP, automation, process mining, analytics, low-code, and intelligent testing technologies that can improve ERP project delivery and operational performance.
Comprehensive Course Outline
Module 1: Foundations of ERP Implementation Project Management
-
ERP concepts, enterprise resource planning architecture, implementation characteristics, and critical project success factors
-
Major ERP functional domains including finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, inventory, and asset management
-
ERP implementation lifecycle from initiation and design through configuration, testing, deployment, stabilization, and benefits realization
-
Roles of executive sponsors, ERP project managers, PMOs, business owners, functional teams, technical teams, vendors, and implementation partners
Module 2: ERP Business Case, Strategy, and Project Initiation
-
ERP business case development, strategic alignment, investment justification, expected benefits, and transformation objectives
-
Implementation strategy selection including greenfield, brownfield, phased rollout, big bang, pilot, and geographic deployment approaches
-
ERP project charter development, scope definition, assumptions, constraints, dependencies, governance, and implementation success criteria
-
Mobilization planning, project kickoff, stakeholder alignment, resource onboarding, implementation standards, and initial delivery baselines
Module 3: ERP Requirements, Process Design, and Solution Planning
-
Current-state process assessment, future-state design, process standardization, operating model alignment, and business transformation opportunities
-
Functional and non-functional ERP requirements, requirements prioritization, traceability, acceptance criteria, and requirements governance
-
Fit-to-standard, configuration, customization, extensions, and process adaptation decisions for sustainable ERP solution delivery
-
Solution design workshops, cross-functional dependencies, design approvals, decision logs, process ownership, and solution documentation
Module 4: ERP Project Planning, Scheduling, Cost, and Resource Controls
-
ERP work breakdown structures, integrated master schedules, work packages, dependencies, milestones, critical paths, and stage-gate planning
-
ERP implementation cost estimation covering software, licensing, consulting, infrastructure, integrations, data migration, training, and contingency
-
Resource planning across business users, functional consultants, technical specialists, data teams, testing teams, change professionals, and vendors
-
Progress measurement, schedule variance, cost variance, forecasting, earned value principles, dashboards, and executive performance reporting
Module 5: ERP Configuration, Customization, and Technical Delivery Management
-
Managing ERP configuration activities across functional modules, workflows, organizational structures, master data, and business rules
-
Customization governance, extension management, technical debt, solution complexity, upgrade implications, and maintainability considerations
-
Coordination of ERP environments, development, testing, quality assurance, production, release management, and deployment controls
-
Managing technical dependencies involving infrastructure, cloud services, databases, identity management, integrations, security, and enterprise architecture
Module 6: ERP Data Migration, Integration, and Testing Management
-
ERP data migration strategy covering data ownership, extraction, cleansing, mapping, transformation, validation, reconciliation, and migration rehearsals
-
Integration planning for APIs, middleware, banking systems, payroll, CRM, supply chain applications, external platforms, and legacy environments
-
ERP testing frameworks covering unit, system, integration, regression, performance, security, end-to-end, and user acceptance testing
-
Defect management, test readiness, quality gates, test evidence, business sign-off, remediation tracking, and release quality assurance
Module 7: ERP Risk, Change Control, Security, and Governance
-
ERP risk identification and assessment covering requirements, data, vendors, integrations, resources, schedule, cost, cybersecurity, and organizational readiness
-
ERP change control covering scope changes, configuration changes, customization requests, new requirements, schedule impacts, and budget consequences
-
ERP cybersecurity, identity and access management, segregation of duties, privacy, compliance, audit requirements, and sensitive business data protection
-
Steering committees, governance forums, decision rights, escalation mechanisms, issue management, project assurance, and executive accountability
Module 8: ERP Organizational Change, Training, Cutover, and Go-Live
-
ERP change impact assessment, stakeholder analysis, communication planning, resistance management, organizational readiness, and adoption strategy
-
Role-based ERP training, super-user development, knowledge transfer, business process education, user support, and competency assessment
-
Cutover planning, data freeze, migration execution, deployment sequencing, readiness assessments, rollback planning, and go-live decision criteria
-
ERP command centers, hypercare, issue triage, stabilization, operational support, service transition, and post-go-live performance monitoring
Module 9: ERP Benefits Realization, Optimization, and Continuous Improvement
-
ERP benefits realization frameworks, business performance indicators, financial benefits, process improvements, productivity measures, and value tracking
-
Post-go-live performance analysis, user adoption, process compliance, system utilization, business feedback, and operational improvement opportunities
-
ERP lessons learned, implementation retrospectives, knowledge management, project closure, governance improvement, and organizational capability development
-
Continuous ERP optimization through enhancements, release planning, process automation, reporting improvements, workflow optimization, and lifecycle investment management
Module 10: Cloud ERP, AI, Automation, and Emerging Technologies
-
Cloud ERP and SaaS implementation models, subscription-based platforms, composable ERP architecture, scalability, and lifecycle management
-
AI-assisted ERP requirements analysis, configuration support, project planning, risk prediction, automated documentation, testing, and implementation reporting
-
Process mining, intelligent automation, low-code extensions, predictive analytics, digital adoption platforms, and AI-powered ERP support
-
Emerging trends including autonomous ERP assistants, generative AI for ERP configuration and knowledge management, intelligent controls, continuous testing, and AI-enabled enterprise transformation
Training Approach
This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.
Tailor-Made Course
This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808
Training Venue
The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.
Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant
Certification
Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.
Airport Pickup and Accommodation
Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808
Terms of Payment:
Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.
