Rescuing an ERP Implementation – Workday

Rescuing an ERP Implementation – Workday

Client: A global private equity-backed engineering business

Scope of Work:

• Centralising operations and reducing costs
• Implementing Workday as an ERP solution for HR
• Building and launching a PMO
• Supporting Finance Transformation Director with a Head of PMO appointment

The Challenge

Our client, a global engineering business previously operating under a decentralised business model, embarked on a centralisation journey to reduce costs and eliminate duplication across the organisation. With the target operating model defined by management consultancies, they aimed to implement Workday as their ERP solution for HR and Finance. However, the initial implementation did not meet expectations, leading to project delays and stakeholder dissatisfaction.

Our Approach

To address these challenges, we were engaged to hire an interim consultant to rescue the Workday implementation. Our approach included:

1. Placing an HR Transformation Director:
   • We placed a seasoned HR Transformation Director to lead the Workday programme. This consultant brought extensive experience in ERP implementations and a deep understanding of HR processes.
   • The HR Transformation Director’s role was to reassess the current state of the implementation, identify key issues, and develop a robust recovery plan. This involved realigning the project with business objectives, managing stakeholder expectations, and ensuring the programme stayed on track.
2. Building and Launching a PMO:
   • Recognising the need for structured project management, we helped the client establish a Project Management Office (PMO). This included recruiting skilled project managers and defining clear processes and governance frameworks.
   • The PMO played a critical role in standardising project management practices, ensuring effective communication, and providing oversight for the Workday implementation and other strategic initiatives.

Results

The strategic placement of the HR Transformation Director and the establishment of the PMO led to significant positive outcomes for the client:

• Programme Recovery: The HR Transformation Director successfully realigned the Workday implementation with the business objectives, resolving key issues and putting the project back on track. This led to a marked improvement in project milestones and deliverables.
• Enhanced Business Engagement: By effectively managing stakeholder expectations and improving communication, the HR Transformation Director fostered stronger business engagement with the new system. This resulted in higher user adoption rates and overall satisfaction with the Workday solution.
• Operational Efficiency: The establishment of the PMO brought structure and discipline to the project management processes, leading to better resource allocation, risk management, and timely project delivery. This contributed to the overall success of the centralization programme and the realization of cost savings.

Through our targeted placements and strategic support, we enabled the client to rescue their ERP implementation, achieve significant programme recovery, and drive successful business engagement with the new system.