Catalysts for Change: Advancing IR’s Strategic Role in ERP Implementation

Session Abstract: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations, such as Banner and Workday, are often viewed as technical projects, but they can be catalysts for so much more. These transitions can redefine institutional processes, shift data cultures, and even reshape organizational roles.
In this session, two institutional research professionals will share their unique experiences from opposite ends of the ERP change timeline: One served as a key stakeholder in the preparation and planning stages of a Banner implementation for 6 distinct institutions within a university system, navigating change management, data cleanup, and cross-campus collaboration before go-live. The other stepped into a newly created IR/data strategy role that emerged post-Workday implementation, designed to meet the institution’s growing demand for integrated analytics, governance structures, and a data-informed culture.

Keywords: change, innovation, ERP, planning