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Realistic Expectations: How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Outside Project Managers for Implementing Microsoft Dynamics GP

by Mark Polino
Director of Client Services, Fastpath, Integrated Business Group

In my career working with Microsoft Dynamics GP, I have regularly seen companies bring on new project managers to help implement Dynamics GP. The reasoning seems sound--the project manager has good experience and, besides, there's not enough internal staff available. If this professional works out, the companies figure, he or she can transition into a GP administrator role.

As good as it sounds, this approach rarely works out well. That's not to say it can't, but for any number of reasons, it just doesn't. It takes an extraordinary organization and committed individuals to make such an approach work. What does it take to successfully bring new project managers aboard? The answer to that question involves understanding, first, why the approach usually doesn't work. With those insights, it's possible to provide alternatives to improve the normally long odds against success.

Here are the key reasons why the project manager approach so rarely works:

  • Project Managers almost never have role power.

Role power is the authority vested in someone simply because of their role in the organization. When you report to me, I have role power. I write your review, evaluate your performance and can end your employment. Exercising role power doesn't have to be overt--its mere existence is often enough to get things done. The problem for project managers is they almost never have role power over project team members in a Dynamics GP implementation. The teams are typically cross-functional and may report to many different managers throughout an organization. Project managers are forced to use influence and relationships to get things done, and new employees have little influence and no relationships.

  • New employees have little influence and no relationships

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About Mark Polino

Mark Polino is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a former Microsoft MVP (2007-2018) for Business Solutions. He is the author or coauthor of 5 books related to Microsoft Dynamics GP.  Mark also maintains the Dynamics GP focused website DynamicAccounting.net. He speaks and writes regularly about ERP related topics. Mark has been a controller and CFO for a division of a publicly traded company and he has  worked as a consultant implementing ERP solutions. Mark holds additional certifications including Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) , Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Dynamics Credentialed Professional for Dynamics GP 2015 (Core Install and Core Financials), Xero Certified. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Central Florida and an MBA from Rollins College. Mark lives with his family in Florida.

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