Selecting a new ERP software often requires more than just research, demos, and budgets.  Often, it is the team that we assemble for a project that determines its success.

Team sports are a prime example of how this works.  If you have a basketball, baseball, or football team that doesn’t recognize and utilize the strengths of each player then you typically end up with dysfunction.  Every member of a team has a role to play in reaching the goal of a winning season.  An ERP selection committee is much like a sports team with the goal of a winning season.

Assembling a winning team does not necessarily mean you focus solely on power users or department managers.  In fact, it more than likely will be a combination.  Your recruiting goal should focus on key players in your business.  Who are the executives that will ultimately give the approval for the budget?  Who are the users that have a solid grasp on workflow and system utilization?  Who are the managers that play key roles in production and business process?  These are the people that should be considered for an ERP selection committee.

Focusing on these individuals will help ensure an ERP selection committee that has different points of view and ultimately bring their own strengths to the team.  By including key executives, the path to gaining budget approval and understanding the need for an updated ERP system will come with more in depth knowledge.  Including key management in the decision helps provide a voice for production and business process functions.  Inviting power users of your current system provides an in depth level of knowledge regarding your current ERP functions and where they need to be improved.

As an ERP project leader, you really must look at yourself as a recruiter of the talent around you to fulfill multiple positions.  Focusing on only executives or managers is like trying to create a team out of quarterbacks or point guards.  Just because these are key organizational positions doesn’t mean that they don’t need the rest of the team.

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