ERP Implementation 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main goal of master data cleansing before an ERP go-live?
- Reduce the number of user licenses needed
- Ensure accurate and consistent foundational data is loaded into the new system (Correct answer)
- Speed up system performance during testing
- Eliminate the need for post-go-live data audits
Correct answer: Ensure accurate and consistent foundational data is loaded into the new system
Clean master data (customers, vendors, materials, chart of accounts) is essential because the ERP's accuracy depends entirely on the quality of foundational records loaded into it.
Question 2: Which ERP implementation risk does a 'go/no-go checklist' specifically address?
- Budget overrun
- Premature go-live with unresolved critical issues (Correct answer)
- Insufficient user training
- Vendor contract disputes
Correct answer: Premature go-live with unresolved critical issues
A go/no-go checklist forces a structured review of open issues, test completion rates, and readiness criteria before authorizing the final production cutover.
Question 3: What is 'change freeze' in the context of ERP go-live preparation?
- Stopping all project budget changes
- A period during which no changes are made to the system configuration before cutover (Correct answer)
- Freezing employee headcount during the transition
- Blocking new business requirements from being added after blueprint
Correct answer: A period during which no changes are made to the system configuration before cutover
A change freeze locks the ERP configuration in the weeks before go-live so that testing results remain valid and no last-minute changes introduce new defects.
Question 4: In ERP implementation, what is the purpose of an integration test?
- Verify individual modules work in isolation
- Test that data flows correctly across multiple connected modules end-to-end (Correct answer)
- Confirm the system can handle peak user volumes
- Validate that the UI meets design standards
Correct answer: Test that data flows correctly across multiple connected modules end-to-end
Integration testing validates that transactions passing through multiple modules (e.g., order-to-cash spanning Sales, Warehouse, and Finance) produce correct results throughout the chain.
Question 5: Why is executive sponsorship considered a critical success factor for ERP implementation?
- Executives provide the technical configuration expertise
- Executive authority resolves escalations, secures resources, and drives organizational change (Correct answer)
- Executives perform UAT to sign off on the system
- Executives negotiate software licensing discounts
Correct answer: Executive authority resolves escalations, secures resources, and drives organizational change
Strong executive sponsors break organizational resistance, prioritize the project over competing demands, and signal to the company that ERP adoption is mandatory.
Question 6: What is a 'sandbox environment' used for in ERP implementation?
- Production data processing during peak periods
- Safe experimentation, prototyping, and testing without affecting real data (Correct answer)
- Storing archived legacy system records
- Running financial period-end closing processes
Correct answer: Safe experimentation, prototyping, and testing without affecting real data
A sandbox is an isolated system copy where consultants and developers can freely test configurations or code changes without any risk to production or live project data.
Question 7: Which post-go-live support model involves the implementation team staying on-site to resolve issues immediately after cutover?
- Help desk ticketing only
- Hypercare support (Correct answer)
- Self-service knowledge base
- Offshore managed services
Correct answer: Hypercare support
Hypercare is an intensive, hands-on support period immediately after go-live where the full project team remains available to rapidly address issues before stabilization.
ERP Implementation 4
What is the main goal of master data cleansing before an ERP go-live?