The single largest contributor to a successful implementation is the champion of the project. When he or she believes in and is involved in the details of the project, it is successful. When the champion is the CEO and he or she leaves the details to the staff, the success has been less consistent. When I was involved in a project with people who wanted the project to be successful, it usually was. When they did not have the vision to implement, the project failed. Every great implementation has been led internally by a smart, committed, change agent. In situations where the senior executive was committed, but the people were not, the project failed.