Beyond Execution: Why Governance is the Missing Link in ERP Success

How Rhodium’s PLATINUM Methodology Elevates Deltek PowerLaunch

At Rhodium Digital, we define success as a stable, adopted, and operationally effective environment — one where the system supports the business, not the other way around. A successful implementation means fewer disruptions, confident users, dependable reporting, and a leadership team with visibility and control. Go-live is not our finish line. Success is measured by what endures: smoother operations, better decision-making, and a business that is ready to grow.

That is why we created PLATINUM — our strategic governance methodology that overlays Deltek’s PowerLaunch. PowerLaunch provides the technical execution model. PLATINUM provides the strategic scaffolding — guiding the people, decisions, communications, and outcomes that ensure implementation is not only complete, but transformative.

What PowerLaunch Does Well

Deltek’s PowerLaunch methodology is built for clarity and structure. It defines the steps needed to configure and deploy the system, along with templates and best practices that support consistent execution. For mid-sized firms with aggressive timelines or limited internal resources, PowerLaunch helps streamline delivery and reduce complexity.

But structure alone does not create change. To move from system setup to organizational impact, you need alignment, context, and decision support. That is where PLATINUM comes in.

The Role of PLATINUM

PLATINUM is Rhodium’s governance overlay — a methodology that brings leadership structure, strategic alignment, and change readiness to every phase of implementation. It introduces tools and activities that PowerLaunch intentionally leaves flexible, including stakeholder mapping, success criteria definition, decision documentation, and readiness assessments.

These deliverables provide project teams and executive sponsors with the ability to lead, track, and measure the implementation — while remaining anchored to the business goals driving it.

PLATINUM ensures the “why” behind each decision is just as clear as the “how.” It aligns execution with intent.

The PLATINUM Overlay: Elevating Every PowerLaunch Phase

• PLAN (Initiate)
  Define strategic goals, governance roles, and clear success measures. Deliverables include alignment maps, accountability frameworks, and a working definition of success owned by leadership.
• LEARN (Initiate/Establish)
  Conduct operational discovery with a focus on outcomes, not just processes. Capture current-state pain points, priority workflows, and baseline metrics — not only to guide configuration, but to set a benchmark for future success.
• ASSESS (Establish)
  Facilitate collaborative prioritization of gaps and opportunities. We document critical decisions, facilitate alignment sessions, and produce summary reports that guide downstream design and training.
• TRANSFORM (Establish/Verify)
  Build future-state models validated by real-life use cases. We develop scenario-based configuration guidance and facilitate cross-functional feedback sessions — ensuring the system is designed around how the business actually works.
• INTEGRATE (Verify)
  Evaluate technical readiness, data flow, and reporting integrity — but also map process ownership and confirm business-side support. We surface early friction points across systems and teams.
• NAVIGATE (Deploy)
  Drive structured change and communications planning. We deliver readiness scorecards, training rollout plans, and stakeholder briefings to ensure people are supported, not surprised.
• UTILIZE (Go-Live)
  Support go-live with structured Hyper-care that includes issue tracking, user feedback loops, and escalation pathways. The result: smoother transitions and fewer operational hiccups.
• MEASURE (Post-Go-Live)
  Facilitate post-launch KPI reviews and roadmap planning. Deliverables include adoption metrics, lessons-learned summaries, and future-phase planning aligned to business priorities.

Why This Matters

Because ERP is not just about what the system does — it is about what the business can now do with the system.

Without governance, even the best-executed implementations can drift. Teams lose visibility, decisions become reactive, and opportunities for improvement get missed.

PLATINUM ensures your implementation remains grounded in purpose. It brings a disciplined approach to leadership, alignment, and measurement — ensuring every phase contributes to lasting impact.

What You Can Expect

When PLATINUM is layered onto PowerLaunch, Rhodium clients benefit from:

• Clear alignment on goals, roles, and success measures
• Stronger decision tracking and reduced rework
• Higher adoption and fewer surprises at go-live
• Post-implementation reviews grounded in business KPIs
• A forward-looking roadmap backed by what was learned

We partner with clients who want more than a functioning system. They want teams that are confident, operations that are reliable, and a business positioned to thrive.

Curious how this works in practice?
These insights come from years in the trenches — from seeing what works, what fails, and what truly moves the needle for project-based firms. If this resonates with your firm’s journey, feel free to reach out. I would be happy to share how we apply PLATINUM in real-world scenarios — and how a little governance goes a long way.

— Ryan Steil, CEO, Rhodium Digital
Follow me on LinkedIn for more insights on ERP strategy, digital transformation, and making work suck a little less.

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