What You Can Expect if You are Asked to Participate in a Critical Issues Session

What is a “Critical Issues” Session? A critical issues session is very similar to a focus group.  In the critical issues session a select group of stakeholders will meet to brainstorm and discuss a series of specific issues concerning the upcoming ERP selection and implementation. 

What is the purpose of this session? The purpose of this session is to generate all the critical issues that will need to be considered and dealt with as we can embark on the selection and implementation of an ERP system.  This session is one of the most important planning events for this complex technology undertaking.

How long will it take?  Two and a half hours. 

When and where will it be?  The time and place of the session will be included in the email that each participant will receive.

Why was I selected to participate?  Participants in the critical issues session are selected to best represent the technical, functional, and academic departments. There will be people from the IT organization, admissions, financial aid, student accounts, faculty, senior administration and others. There will probably be around fifteen to twenty participants in this focus group experience.

Who will facilitate this session?  Two staff members from Collegiate Project Services will facilitate the session. 

Do I need to prepare for this session?  Yes.  Prior to the session each participant will be sent a three-page booklet to fill out and bring to the session.

What will happen during the session?  The facilitators will take you through a structured process to collect your input.  The group will generate a list of major steps that must be carried out, a list of concerns and risks, a list of questions that must be answered before we start the implementation, and a list of assumptions that must be documented and validated.  The critical issues session is usually lively and engaging, and the results from the session are indispensable for preparing to carry out a successful project.   

Will I get feedback after the session? Yes, participants in the critical issues session all will get a final list of issues that were generated, as well as a summary of how each issue should be dealt with before the implementation begins.  Also, when the assessment project has been completed, all critical issues participants will receive a copy of the final readiness assessment report as well as a copy of a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the key findings from the readiness assessment.

We look forward to working with you in this important session!

 

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