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Addressing Conflict During the Lifecycle of Project Engagement

Michael Bell

Oct 29 2025

3 min read

Conflict is inevitable in complex projects. It can arise from various factors such as competing priorities, resource constraints, or unclear communication. Unmanaged conflict can derail timelines, inflate costs, and strain client relationships. At Sikich, we view conflict not as a disruption, but as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and deliver successful outcomes.

Why Conflict Happens in Project Engagements

Projects involve multiple stakeholders, clients, vendors, and internal teams, each with unique goals and expectations. Common triggers include:

Scope creep: Misaligned understanding of deliverables.
Resource allocation: Competing demands for skilled personnel.
Decision-making delays: Lack of clarity on governance structures.
Change management resistance: Stakeholders hesitate to adopt new processes.

Key Risks to the Overall Timeline

Delayed Approvals
Governance bottlenecks can stall progress when deliverables await sign-off.
Resource Turnover
Losing critical team members mid-project can disrupt continuity.
Communication Gaps
Poor information flow leads to misunderstandings and missed deadlines.
Client Engagement Shortfalls
Projects falter when client SMEs are unavailable.

Sikich’s Proven Mitigation Strategies

HeadSTART Methodology
Sikich’s structured approach divides projects into logical phases: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Validation, and Support, with formal reviews at each stage.
Governance & Decision-Making Discipline
Steering Committee oversight and formal signoffs reduce ambiguity and prevent uncontrolled changes.
Transparent Change Management
Any deviation from scope or timeline triggers a documented Change Order process.

Real-World Examples

ERP Implementation for a Manufacturing Client
During a large-scale ERP rollout, the client’s internal team faced resistance to process changes, causing delays in testing. Sikich mitigated this by deploying change champions and conducting targeted workshops, reducing resistance and accelerating user adoption.
Healthcare System Upgrade
A major healthcare provider experienced resource turnover mid-project. Sikich’s resource plan ensured immediate onboarding of replacement consultants and absorbed transition costs, thereby keeping the timeline intact.
Financial Services Cloud Migration
Governance delays threatened a critical migration deadline. Sikich enforced weekly Steering Committee checkpoints and implemented a decision escalation protocol, enabling timely approvals and avoiding costly overruns.
Retail Analytics Deployment
Scope creep emerged when stakeholders requested additional reporting features late in the project. Sikich applied its formal Change Order process, documenting impacts and securing client signoff before proceeding, preserving transparency and trust.

Conclusion

Conflict doesn’t have to derail your project. With robust governance, proactive communication, and structured methodologies, Sikich transforms potential friction into collaborative progress. By anticipating risks and implementing proven mitigation strategies, we safeguard timelines and deliver exceptional results.

This publication contains general information only and Sikich is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or any other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should you use it as a basis for any decision, action or omission that may affect you or your business. Before making any decision, taking any action or omitting an action that may affect you or your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. In addition, this publication may contain certain content generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) language model. You acknowledge that Sikich shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by you or any person who relies on this publication.

About the Author

Michael Bell

Michael is a Principal at Sikich LLC and a leader of our delivery services of D365 FSCM ERP implementations. He is committed to helping and assisting clients navigate the complexities of an ERP implementation to ensure successful results.