The rate of change in the IT industry today means that many products and services are new and untried. At the same time, business is looking for confidence and consistency. To manage the risk and variables common in IT projects, methodologies like PRINCE2 help successful delivery.
Key project delivery modules – Plan, Design, Build, Deliver, Support and Manage – can be engaged sequentially or individually. Leveraging established approaches offers clients proven processes for integrating open systems and client/service environments to ensure projects are completed on time and budget.
Technology Streams
The future of computing and communications will rely to a large extent on the technologies which enable the convergence of data, voice and video.
Networks: The networking of platforms and standard operating environments which allow computing and communications devices to exchange information through a Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN).
Internet/Intranet: Business applications that employ Internet and Intranet solutions are being developed at a rapid rate worldwide and these technologies are opening up vast opportunities for electronic commerce in every industry.
Messaging: Electronic messaging takes many forms and is a prime vehicle for the integration of voice, data and video to improve the way businesses communicate with each other, their customers and other stakeholders.
Project Planning
At the outset, all requirements for a project are understood and all risks are identified and documented so they can be minimised by the resulting plan. These are communicated to all involved. The result is that business needs are identified, appropriate technical solutions defined and project plans set up establishing how the solution will be implemented.
The Plan section can involve:
- business needs analysis
- business requirements specification
- scope of work
- quality plan
- risk analysis
- project schedule and
- acceptance criteria
For larger projects, detailed design documents are required to ensure the system is correctly designed and that the relevant detailed implementation plans are prepared. Often before this design work can proceed, audits of the existing hardware, software and network infrastructure are required. To enable correct training plans to be developed, skills audits are also often required. Technical risks are minimised because all configurations and technical designs are subjected to a full systems assurance process.
The Design section can involve:
- audit
- detailed design documents
- system design
- implementation plans
- training plans
- test plans
- pilots
- benchmarking and
- product evaluation and recommendations
In this build element of a project, all components of the core system are brought together in a state which can be tested prior to installation. The testing process enables rapid transition from installation to operation at the customer site.
The Build section can involve:
- product procurement
- cabling
- hardware configurations
- software build and configuration
- hotstaging
- site preparations
- integration services
- migration services
- conversion services and
- core system test
This delivery of a project involves full implementation of the system, including hand-over of the documentation and completion of the training. A Support plan is recommended to guarantee you continue to gain maximum return on your investment in IT systems. The final part of this section is the full testing and sign-off.
The Deliver section can involve:
- installation
- roll outs
- training
- documentation
- support plans
- acceptance tests and
- project completion (sign off)
The support element provides the cover and service levels needed for each part of the system. This section is on-going to ensure maximum efficiency and productivity from the installed system.
The Support section can involve:
- service level agreements
- warranty management
- call management and help desk
- repair & maintenance
- systems management
- asset management and skills transfer
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