Feeling isolated? Integrating PM into the Back Office

On Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 2pm ET/1pm CT/11:00 am PT, Daptiv is sponsoring a free Webinar with Margo Visitacion, an expert in IT PPM at Forrester Research, who will present on “The Need to Break Out of the PPM Silo” and how integrating with back-office systems like ERP can help.

If you can’t make the Webinar, don’t worry, it will be recorded and available in Daptiv’s archives. Register and you’ll get the info in email so you don’t miss out.

There has been quite a bit of news and research lately about the state of ERP software systems – that’s Enterprise Resource Planning – provided by companies like Netsuite, Oracle and SAP. So, what is it and why should you care if you’ve never heard about it or dealt with it before?

Historically, ERP systems have managed the “guts” of many major organizations, from functional areas like HR to inventory and accounting. These giant systems house lots of crucial business data that are necessary to keep a company running – we’re talking everything from employee ID numbers to vendor purchase orders. However, it can be tricky to get information in or out of such monolithic systems – and frequently financial information tracked in an ERP system is generated (and also managed) in other software systems, like PPM, for instance.

Independent research firm, Forrester Research, recently published a report on the current ability to integrate software systems with ERP, noting that although some progress has been made, this really important nut has not been completely cracked yet. Forrester used the analogy of ERP integration as a “beast” that needs to be tamed. Though the big ERP vendors have their work cut out for them, immediate solutions are being created through Software-as-a-Service integrations that can be put in place as quickly as 3 days, and for a fraction of the price of other integration options.

Why the big push to integrate systems with ERP?  Here are a few for project managers to consider:

• Show off: Reflecting your PM financials in the ERP system will showcase your results and the value of your portfolio
• Save yourself (and your team) some hassle: If your PPM system is properly hooked up with your company’s ERP system, you will cut out duplicate processes and make your teams more productive (example: streamline payroll – enter hours once for project status and for the paycheck)
• Be a hero: Your company’s accounting team will love you if you make it easy to line up project financials with ERP financials. Accurate info is your CFO’s key to a better night’s sleep!

Learn more about the why’s and where-fors of integrating PPM with back office systems by registering for the Webinar by Margo Visitacion, a vice president at Forrester Research, serving Application Development & Program Management professionals.

Margo focuses on the areas of project management, project portfolio management, PMO, software testing, quality assurance and Agile test methodologies. She has worked with Forrester for eight years, during which time she has covered project and program management, project portfolio management, project-based organizations, integrated IT management, requirements management, quality assurance and testing processes.