Why Write a Book?

As I look back on why I decided to write The Project Manager’s ERP Field Manual, there was not one primary reason that drove me to write it, but rather a conglomeration of several key variables. I’ve always been a big reader. Books help ground me in the subject I want to focus on. I prefer them to articles for many reasons, but that’s not to say I don’t also spend time online, books are just my preference.

Since advancing my career and entering my role as an ERP project manager about three years ago, I have read quite a few books on various aspects of the subject. However, I’ve yet to find a clear walkthrough of the lifecycle of an ERP project from a project manager’s perspective. It took a good deal of time for me to understand each stage and what is required for that stage, mostly gaining experience and relying on online research.

I think there are some fair reasons for this lack in the market. For one, every ERP project may be approached differently by each firm conducting it. That said, I’ve now sat through proposal presentations for ERP projects from quite a few vendors, and while they often say their approach is different and may have some small differences in strategy, at the end of the day, their approaches remain similar. Certainly not varying enough to justify no book on the subject for that reason. Another reason perhaps is project managers are used to learning on the job. This may be valid, but wouldn’t it be better to have a jump start?

So, anyway, I decided to write my own little log on the subject to serve as a job aid. I especially wanted to do this because ERP projects can last more than a year. This means I may go a year without revisiting a phase, which increases the risk of forgetting things. So, like I said, I started building the job aid.

It didn’t take long for me to notice that there is an opportunity here to deliver something that can benefit many people, not just me. From business leaders who have found themselves responsible for an ERP project and want to understand how ERP systems function, to the new project manager who is trying to move into the space, or many other people, I want to share my experience and research with them.

So, if you’re looking forward to understanding the lifecycle of an ERP project from a phase perspective, get excited! We will have this book out in no time. It is currently in the editing stage.

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