Successful implementation of a CWMS requires a great deal of planning and use of resources, both internally as well as externally consultant and/or vendor. Careful preparation before the actual implementation activities can smooth the way for a successful project. Some of these activities can start before the end of the selection process. A high-level plan can be developed that identifies these as well as other key activities necessary for a successful implementation. The CWMS implementation process is shown in Figure 9.1. Only the preparation phase will be discussed in detail in this chapter, the remaining steps will be discussed in Chapter 10.

Figure 9.1: CWMS Implementation Process.

Steps In The Pre-Planning Phase Of The Implementation Process (Figure 9.2)

The activities in the pre-planning phase are: planning for change, developing the work plan and communications, developing supporting organization, developing hardware infrastructure, defining to be work processes and collecting preliminary data.

Figure 9.2: Steps in the Pre-planning Phase.

Step 1 Planning for Change and Selecting an Implementation Team

Planning for Change

Essentially a CWMS project is a change management process: the significance of the change is usually very little if the project is a replacement of an existing system. The more popular CWMS projects are usually a first-time implementation. In this case, it means converting the entire work management process from a paper- or verbal-based system into one that is fully electronic. There is considerable fear of the unknown, therefore, a reluctance to relinquish a process that has been used for...