Kick-Starting a Euro Project

FRAMINGHAM (02/07/2000) - Some companies' euro conversion projects are suffering from low-priority status, lack of resources and sluggish responses from business units. How do you revive business support for a stalled euro project? Gartner Group Inc. analyst Nick Jones and other euro watchers offered the following advice:

Meet with business executives and show them examples of interfaces between business units and other firms that need euro-ready systems and data.

Be sure to inform business sponsors that the euro program is lagging and needs more action and resources. (This also acts as an insurance policy for the program manager if the project ultimately fails.)Appeal to IT steering committees or project boards to see if they will redirect resources to or put pressure on the parts of the company impeding progress.

Point out that competitors are further along in their euro conversions and pose a competitive risk. And note that customers or suppliers may expect euro readiness before the company can deliver it.

Inform top executives that it may take the IT department longer to get the job done than they expect. Gartner Group has come across cases where business managers believe they can respond to euro requirements within six months but IT figures it will take 18 months just to prepare systems.

Develop last-resort contingency plans if the euro project isn't completed in time. Working with business units to create contingency plans will highlight the status of the project and may help jump-start it.

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