Best Practices for a Curriculum Management Implementation

You’ve sent the RFP, done your due diligence, selected a vendor, and cut through red tape. Now, onto the implementation. 

Implementation is a critical first step in your partnership with your new vendor. In the case of curriculum management software, the implementation process can have far-reaching effects and experience roadblocks like defining data and faculty resistance. However, with a vendor partner like Kuali, this process becomes far less daunting and your institution is set up for success. 

With a vendor partner, you’ll have an ally throughout the process. Your institution has unique needs, processes, and goals. The right vendor partner will listen and work with you to help you set up the software so you can achieve your goals. 

As you begin the implementation process, be sure to follow these three best practices:

1. Set expectations

Start with understanding roles and responsibilities. You might ask the following questions:

• Who will participate from the vendor organization? What are their roles?
• Who will participate from the institution? What are their roles?
• Who should the institution go to first whenever questions arise?
• How will we communicate (i.e., email, shared workspace)?
  

Additionally, let your vendor know if you have other projects going on elsewhere. Are you implementing a learning management system (LMS) right now? Share the details with your vendor. Will other projects, like publishing the catalog, take you away from implementing the new curriculum for a short period? Share that information as well. Sharing expectations from the beginning will help increase transparency throughout the project.

2. Define scope and revisit often

Define your scope of work early on. A partner vendor will work with you to outline a thorough scope of the project ahead. Together you’ll be able to determine core needs and elements that may take extra time, such as doing multiple integrations. Once you’ve defined the project’s scope, revisit it often. This will help it stay on track.

3. Build a partnership

Building a partnership with your vendor during the implementation process will be immensely beneficial in the long run. You’ll have an ally throughout the project process and someone to turn to once it’s over. Your point of contact can be someone you continually work with to help you get the most out of your software. 

Interested in learning more about the Kuali implementation process, and what we have to offer as a technology partner? Ashely Pendergrass, Kuali Curriculum & Catalog Management Customer Success Manager, recently presented on implementation best practices. Watch the webinar today and discover:

• How to clearly define roles and responsibilities for both the vendor and the institution
• How to maximize customer readiness
• The phases of implementation and how to get the most out of each one