Day 1: Foundations and Initiation

Morning

Module 1: Introduction to ERP & Project Management Fundamentals (1.5–2 hours)

• What is ERP? Core functionalities and value proposition  

• Overview of ERP project management vs. traditional IT projects  

• Key roles and stakeholders in ERP initiatives  

• Practical Activity: Short case study review: Identifying key stakeholders and their interests

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Module 2: ERP Project Life Cycle & Methodologies (1.5 hours)

• Typical phases of ERP implementation (Selection, Initiation, Design, Configuration, Testing, Deployment, Stabilization)  

• Waterfall vs. Agile vs. Hybrid approaches for ERP projects  

• Vendor-provided methodologies (e.g., SAP Activate, Oracle Unified Method)  

• Practical Activity: Map a hypothetical ERP project timeline and discuss which methodology best fits your organizational context​

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Afternoon

Module 3: Project Initiation & Feasibility (1.5 hours)

• Defining business objectives and critical success factors  

• Conducting feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses  

• Aligning ERP initiatives with corporate strategy and digital transformation goals  

• Practical Activity: Participants draft a preliminary project charter for a sample ERP scenario

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Module 4: Stakeholder Management & Governance Structures (1.5 hours)

• Identifying and categorizing stakeholders (business units, IT, vendors, integrators)

• Establishing decision-making frameworks and escalation paths

• Project governance models (Steering committees, PMOs, COEs)

• Practical Activity: Role-play exercise: Conducting a stakeholder kickoff meeting and drafting a stakeholder influence/interest matrix

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Module 5: ERP Vendor & Tool Selection (1 hour)

• ERP vendor evaluation criteria (functionality, scalability, TCO)

• Request for Proposal (RFP) and vendor assessment techniques

• Contract negotiation basics and SLAs

• Practical Activity: Group exercise to evaluate mock RFP responses and select a preferred vendor

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​Day 2: Planning & Execution

Morning

Module 6: Requirements Gathering & Scope Definition (1.5–2 hours)

• Techniques for requirements elicitation (interviews, workshops, observation)

• Prioritizing requirements and handling conflicting demands

• Avoiding scope creep through robust documentation and sign-off processes  

• Practical Activity: Requirements workshop simulation: participants break into groups to gather and refine requirements from a fictional business scenario

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Module 7: Work Breakdown Structures, Scheduling & Resource Allocation (1.5 hours)

• Creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) tailored for ERP projects

• Using Gantt charts, milestones, and critical path analysis to manage ERP timelines  

• Resource planning: balancing internal and external team members, functional and technical resources  

• Practical Activity: Participants create a mini-WBS and draft a high-level project schedule for their sample ERP project

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Afternoon

Module 8: Budgeting & Financial Management (1 hour)

• Estimating ERP project costs (software licenses, implementation services, change management)

• Budget tracking, forecasting, and cost variance analysis  

• Handling unexpected financial overruns  

• Practical Activity: Participants review a sample budget and identify potential cost risks

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Module 9: Risk & Change Management in ERP (1.5 hours)

• Identifying common ERP project risks (legacy data issues, customization challenges, user resistance) 

• Developing risk response strategies and contingency plans 

• Building a structured change management plan—communications, training, and stakeholder engagement 

• Practical Activity: Participants brainstorm top 5 risks for the sample project and propose mitigation actions; develop a change impact communication plan

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Module 10: Communication & Stakeholder Engagement (1 hour)

• Designing effective communication channels and frequency

• Managing expectations and delivering timely project updates 

• Dealing with resistance and conflict resolution 

• Practical Activity: Create a communication matrix indicating what, when, and how information is shared with various stakeholder groups

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Day 3: Delivery, Stabilization & Continuous Improvement

Morning

Module 11: Data Migration & Integration Considerations (1.5 hours)

• Data cleansing, mapping, and conversion strategies  

• Ensuring data integrity and alignment with new ERP structures  

• Integration with existing systems and middleware considerations  

• Practical Activity: Participants outline a data migration plan and identify key checks before go-live

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Module 12: Quality Assurance & Testing Strategies (1.5 hours)

• Types of testing (unit, integration, user acceptance testing) 

• Defining test scripts, scenarios, and acceptance criteria 

• Leveraging testing tools and automation where possible 

• Practical Activity: Develop a testing plan and identify acceptance criteria for core ERP functionalities

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Afternoon

Module 13: Go-Live Preparation & Cutover Planning (1 hour)

• Final readiness assessments and go/no-go criteria 

• Cutover sequencing, downtime minimization strategies 

• User training, hypercare support, and stabilization 

• Practical Activity: Draft a cutover checklist and timeline; simulate a readiness meeting

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Module 14: Post-Implementation Support & Continuous Improvement (1.5 hours)

• Measuring project success: KPIs, user adoption, ROI  

• Lessons learned sessions and documentation for future improvements

• Ongoing optimization, upgrades, and alignment with evolving business needs

• Practical Activity: Conduct a mock lessons-learned review to identify improvement areas for future projects

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Module 15: Course Wrap-Up & Action Planning (1 hour)

• Reviewing key learnings across all modules  

• Individual action plans: how to apply these concepts to participants’ real-life ERP environments  

• Q&A and open discussion on specific participant challenges  

• Practical Activity: Participants present their personal takeaways and next steps to their peers for feedback