ERP Transformation Without the Risk: An Analytical Perspective on Failure Patterns and Implementation Frameworks
🔍 Introduction: Why This Paper, Why Now
At Sarrisco, we believe that sharing experiences—both successes and failures—is one of the most valuable contributions we can make to the Oracle user community.
The theme for our paper is an analytical perspective on Project (ERP Implementation) failures, due in part to misguided belief that a ‘one size fits all’ approach taken by most System Integrators, that their methodology will deliver unique results. There is a lot more at stake that needs consideration, starting from the initial requirement for a new way of working, transpiring into understanding, capturing and ultimately delivering the best solution for the company. There are a lot of variables that are overlooked, which helps the traditional methodologies lock customers in with little recourse away from budget increase and scope creep, which inevitably will occur – we’ve seen it time and time again.
ERP transformation is a defining initiative for any organisation. It touches every department, every process, and every employee. Yet history shows us that ERP programmes carry significant risk. Too many implementations have overrun, under-delivered, or failed outright, leaving organisations with significant financial loss, reputational damage, and weakened competitive position.
This paper is intended to provide the Oracle user community with a clear, experience-based analysis of:
- Why ERP implementations so often fail
- What the systemic risks are in traditional approaches
- Why Oracle Cloud ERP offers a compelling platform choice
- And how the SPEED Method, developed by Sarrisco, provides a structured, evidence-led way to mitigate risk and accelerate business value
Our insights are drawn from decades of project delivery experience, reference cases across industries, and independent analyst research (including Gartner, McKinsey, and well-documented public ERP failures). The purpose is not to sell a product, but to contribute to the shared learning of the Oracle community—helping members avoid the mistakes of the past and navigate their own ERP journeys with confidence.