What Is a Microsoft Dynamics GP Implementation Advocate…and When Do You Need One?
A couple months aback I was on the phone with a Microsoft Dynamics GP customer and the conversation went something like this:
Customer: "Hi, I would like to hire you to follow up on my currently ongoing GP implementation."
Me: "Sure! I will be glad to help. What's the situation?"
Customer: "I am currently in middle of an implementation, but not sure if things are going the way they are supposed to. My budget is limited and I cannot extend beyond the deadline we originally agreed upon with my Microsoft partner. Don't get me wrong, I believe everything is going well so far, but cannot afford to miss the go live date."
Me: "So you need me to take over from your PM then?"
Customer: "No, I need a set of independent eyes to verify that my partner is going to deliver what they promised and on time, and that my project manager is aligning our internal resources accordingly."
Me: "So, you want me to be the overall project director?"
Customer: "No, I want you to serve as an advocate for both parties. I want you to reconcile both points of view and make sure we get to the deadline on time"
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Mariano! Thanks for sharing
Mariano!
Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us. Hope this article reaches all customers and partners as well since it involves both of them.
Thanks
Janakiram M.P.
http://janakirammp.blogspot.com
An Advocate must...
...not be a direct competitor with the implementation partner by whom the advocate could be perceived as gathering intelligence on their implementation consulting competition with the possible intent to flip the business. If I was the implementation partner asked to cooperate with an advocate, I'd be reluctant to be transparent with a third party who competes in my space. Where does the customer find a qualified advocate that doesn't represent a potential threat to the implementation partner?