TABLE OF CONTENTS People confuse education with training. These are two separate areas, and the deliverables, while both valuable, are not equal. Combined, these two investments can help change a culture in an organization. Education is about getting employees to understand why change is important, and training teaches them how to do the needed tasks.
Class A ERP education starts on day one of the implementation. It starts with a communication session that describes the "should be" position and compares it to the "is" condition. This description should include performance goals and some benchmarking to ensure that the objectives are achievable. Even before the implementation process begins, however, education has to happen at the highest levels in the organization. This can be some of the most important education (see Figure 15.1).
The first education that needs to happen in an organization ready for Class A implementation is with the top management. Without management's understanding and support, the process will be very difficult to accomplish, no matter how much commitment there is from the ranks. The truth is, it is very easy to fail Class A, lean, or Six Sigma implementations without management support. It happens every day throughout the world. Employees always take their cues from the top-management team, especially the CEO or president.
The education of top management has to be done on their terms, when they are ready, and at a convenient time. It is...
