Our Project Facilitators

Since 1996, Engleman Associates’ business model has been to collaborate with independent consultants to deliver most client services—and this continues to today. The project role the consultants typically fill is called the ‘Facilitator’—and is described directly below. Our company has learned how to locate the best independent consultants and provide a collaboration structure that is productive for our firm, independent consultants, and especially our clients. The current core team has between 5 and 12 years of working together and is highly coordinated based on experience, trust, and common methods.

Project Roles

  • Methodology Expert

    The methods and tools provided by Engleman Associates, Inc. are very detailed and comprehensive. These methods and tools have many configuration options to better support a particular client project—and some elements of methods are not needed for a particular project. All of this needs to be carefully established for a project, therefore, we always have a ‘methodology expert’ involved.

  • Facilitator

    The facilitator role is to execute most of the day-to-day detailed work in the project plan. The key skill for our facilitators is deep experience in the business processes that business software (being selected or implemented) should support. Other necessary facilitator attributes are: (1) ERP project and industry experience, (2) knowledge of modern ERP attributes and purpose, (3) complex project management skill, and (4) credibility and adaptability—so they can purposefully engage all participants from shop floor employees to executives. Facilitators can add the following value on projects:

    • Provide a valuable outside perspective
    • Ensure important project procedures and tools are better utilized
    • Reduce the demand and stress on personnel from the client company
    • Help the project team maintain valuable momentum and consensus

How Facilitators are Selected for Projects

For projects that Engleman Associates directly coordinates, we select one or more facilitators based on the following criteria:

  • Industry and company size experience similar to the client firm.
  • Experience in the software under review (ERP, CRM, etc.) and related business processes
  • SoftSelect/EAI tools and methods experience
  • Proximity to the client
  • Consultant availability for the projected scope and time frame of the client project

Consultants at a Facilitator Workshop

ERP Selection – Leupold & Stevens

Long term ERP license costs were initially very difficult to calculate. Working with SoftSelect we were able to insist on a predicable ERP license fee approach and achieve much lower initial and ongoing license fee costs.

Paul Castle

ERP Selection – Cornell Pump

Negotiating ERP costs is complicated and the ERP software vendors take advantage of the buyer’s lack of experience. SoftSelect’s experience and influence helped us level the playing field. We clearly saved money and lowered our long term risk.

Jeff Markham

ERP Selection – Provo Craft

SoftSelect was a great partner throughout the process of choosing an ERP solution. They helped us control the terms throughout the ERP buying process, and we achieved impressive results in reduced ERP license fees. Having an experienced partner like SoftSelect, helped us negotiate for the products we need and set our expectations for the process of implementing these solutions.

Nate White
Nate White, COO, Provocraft