Navigating an ERP project requires seamless collaboration between IT and business teams to align on expectations. Start by fostering clear, open communication from day one—everyone must understand the project’s goals and deliverables. Hold regular meetings to ensure both teams are on the same page, addressing concerns and managing priorities. As inclusives an leader,encourage mutual respect for each team’s expertise and ensure that IT understands business needs, while business teams appreciate the technical constraints. Set realistic timelines, agree on key milestones, and document everything. By cultivating transparency, building trust, and staying focused on the shared vision, we can ensure the project’s success and smooth implementation.

IT and business teams need to be informed about the ERP strategy. They can then synergize their efforts to focus on the priorities, technical and functional scope, risks, resources, timelines, goals and objectives of the ERP implementation and operations. In summary, they have a clear roadmap to avoid distractions and misdirections.

In my experience, I have observed numerous ERP projects encountering challenges due to poor integration between business and IT or the absence of clear objectives. To address these issues, I recommend the following actions: - Establish a clear vision with well-defined goals and objectives. - Ensure the plan aligns with both business and IT objectives. - Develop a roadmap to realize and enable that vision. - Build a structured project portfolio, promoting collaboration between business and IT stakeholders, ensuring alignment and onboarding. - Monitor execution closely, and proactively addressing risks and issues.

A sure way to improve your changes for success in any ERP or other large scale transformation is to ensure everyone is being held accountable for the same outcome. Everyone on (and around) the team will have different things to do, but if everyone is being held accountable to achieve the same result, together, your chances for success improve dramatically. If you only hold people accountable for doing THEIR part, well you'll get a lot of parts that may not fit together!