Anyone who’s ever gone through an ERP implementation during the early/late 90s and post Y2K knew it’s no walk in the park. There are a million and one things that could (and usually did) go wrong.
Now, imagine going through that same process while you are migrating to cloud or a SAAS application, but this time you have to deal with upper management who doesn’t fully understand or appreciate the work that goes into an ERP/SAAS migration. You’re constantly getting pull requests for features that aren’t related to the project, your team is starting to get frustrated, and you’re pretty sure your boss is about to have a nervous breakdown. It’s enough to make even the most experienced project manager want to pull their hair out.
Fortunately, we can learn from other people’s mistakes. In this blog post, I’ll share some tips on how to keep your cool and get the job done, even when upper management is breathing down your neck.
- Keep a sense of humor
One of the most important things you can do during a stressful situation is to keep your sense of humor. If you can find the funny side of things, it’ll be easier to stay calm and keep things in perspective. After all, it’s not the end of the world if a few things go wrong during the project. Just remember that you’re not in it alone—we’ve all been there before. - Communicate, communicate, communicate
Another important thing to remember is to communicate with your team and upper management as often as possible. Set up regular meetings (weekly or bi-weekly) so everyone is on the same page and knows what needs to be done next. This will help avoid any surprises down the road and will make it easier to keep everyone happy. - Know when to delegate
As the project manager, it’s easy to feel like you have to do everything yourself. But that’s just not realistic—or healthy! Delegate tasks to your team whenever possible so you don’t get overloaded and burned out. This will also give them a chance to step up and show what they’re capable of doing. - Take breaks
Last but not least, don’t forget to take breaks! Working around the clock will not do anyone any good—least of all you. Make sure you take some time for yourself so you can recharge and come back refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.
Conclusion: Cloud ERP/SAAS Migration might seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and communication, it can be a breeze—even with difficult upper management breathing down your neck. So don’t get discouraged—keep your head up and power through! After all, this too shall pass.