The Assessment - Why Bigger International Projects Are Different

Frank Maier and Klaus Feldam discuss when and how project assessments can save struggling implementations before it's too late. Frank and Klaus have collectively navigated over 50 years of international ERP transformations. Frank has led projects with 20,000+ users across hundreds of databases in 25+ countries, while Klaus brings the customer perspective from regulated industries across the US, UK, Germany, and Scandinavia. In this second episode of Over Budget, they reveal why the most dangerous moment in large rollouts isn't during the pilot – it's what comes after. In this episode: • What makes projects "large" and why they need different management • The critical moment: Why projects crash during mass rollout and not in the pilot phase • Why sales pitches rarely mention the real risks and complexities • The two optimal entry points for project assessments. And one additional when the project crashed. • What to do when you walk into a "burning project" • Project management: More psychology than technology? • Resource planning reality: Why your best people are never available • The 80/20 rule of development: When a developer says "80% done" • Budget constraints vs. project reality: Having the honest conversation • When to restart rather than rescue Key insights: "Smooth seas do not make skilled sailors" – battle-tested lessons from projects that went off track and how to recognize the warning signs before it's too late. For Microsoft Dynamics BC partners, ERP project managers, IT decision-makers planning international rollouts, and anyone responsible for complex multi-site implementations. More episodes and show notes: https://dgp.group/einblicke/?typ=podcast 📧 Questions, feedback, praise or criticism? Contact us at: [email protected] 🔗 Follow Frank Maier on LinkedIn for more Insights: www.linkedin.com/in/maierfrank/