ERP Customization - ERP implementation

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Why limit customization?

Once there was a farmer. He was working hard in his small field. He did lot of worshipping. God appeared and told him to ask a wish. He always wanted more land so that he can become rich. He told God to give him bigger piece of land. God said, “At sunrise, start running and make a circle as big as you can, all the land within the circle will be yours, but at sunset you should be back to this point where you started, otherwise you lose everything”. The farmer was very happy and looked forward to the next day eagerly.
Next day, at he sunrise he started running, and by noon covered lot of ground. He included many fields, which he always wanted. This field, and that field, and that one far away too, and so on. By afternoon, he was quite far from the point where he had to return. So he started his journey back. But, then he saw another large piece of land, and thought why not cover this too. Just after that he found neighbouring lush green field and now he became greedy, and thought it is important that I cover this ‘lush green’ field as well, other wise what is the use? So he ran and ran…. Alas, by the time he came back to the point the sun was already set. God told him that he will not get anything because he became greedy and did not finish in time.
In case of ERP implementation, it is observed that the ERP coordinator sometimes also becomes greedy and asks for too much of customization. “I want this also automatic and that also automatic”. “Include this procedure and that procedure too, other wise what is the use”? The ERP team also will carry out all those changes to please him. However, sometime everyone forgets that ERP implementation is a time bound activity and customization (chopping and changing) should be limited to ‘essential’ changes. The wish list can also be prepared and implemented in a phase manner. Otherwise the steam runs out, the time and the budget overrun which hampers the ERP project. The blame game starts, but what is the use, sun is already set……..
Moral of the story is that, please be happy and content with what you have and control the greed and respect the time factor. ERP implementation is a journey and not a destination. Get the essential changes done. Use for sometime. In the next phase plan some more changes and so on…That way the system will also have time to settle. Unlimited customization may take unlimited time.