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Abstract
Installing a new computer system is a significant task for any company. The decision to invest in new software and the selection of a particular package, while certainly momentus choices, are the easiest part of the process. In general, the more time on the system prior to implementation, the smoother the conversion will be. An installation period of 4 to 6 months after selection is generally advisable for all but the largest systems. Once the new software has been chosen, the next step is to formally assign a well-balanced team of operational and technical users to manage the installation project. Notwithstanding the need for extended, organized training sessions, the most important action one can take to ensure a smooth implementation is to simply process as many transactions as possible in a test environment before going live.