When implementing anything but the smallest change, good project management practices are essential to containing costs and meeting deadlines.

As a consultant, I was brought into a $5 million verification service to jump start a software deployment project in development for 1 year.  Management was frustrated that after a full year, they were still not able to deploy the software to any of their clients. 

All the right elements were in place, management support, technical skills, client need.  What was lacking was professional IT project management.  The solution was to immediately establish the project parameters of scope definition, agreement, sign-off, planning, task management, and follow-up.  To Define DONE!  Both management and the development team were educated on successful project implementation strategies, the HOW and the WHY!!