Lessons from enterprise system implementations applied to the Marine corps total force administration system

Abstract

The United States Marine Corps is implementing a new human resource system called the Total Force Administration System (TFAS). Enterprise and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System implementations are reputed to be difficult because of the problems encountered by corporate America in the late 1990αs. This thesis conducted a review of corporate enterprise system implementations looking for commonality in two areas: the most frequent problems encountered and key success factors. This thesis provides the TFAS leadership with issues of concern that require greater attention or research and with key success factors for the TFAS implementation. This thesis also reviewed and analyzed the preliminary architecture for the TFAS project. By leveraging the lessons learned from other implementations, it is hoped to increase the chances of success for this project and minimize implementation pain.