Sample Experience: IT Programme and Project Support

Various organizations in the financial services, telecom, petrochem and public sectors

Assess existing approaches to achieving BVIT, optimize processes and governance structures and acquaint executives with the most advanced findings in the field

Substantially improved governance and processes for prioritizing investments and achieving real business value

International mobile operator

Review of existing application development backlog which had reached 440 projects

Using the BVIT toolkit, backlog was reduced to less than 100. Management became acquainted with the relevant BVIT techniques and successfully applied them to ongoing AD requests

US regional bank

Identify potential savings to be achieved in the bank’s hardware and software asset base using the BVIT asset management toolkit

Two-month exercise identified savings of $2.4 million, achieved within six months of project completion

Implementation of BVIT asset management components resulted in ongoing savings for the client

South African mining company

Review perception of poor value from IT investments, prioritize IT investment funding request portfolio and hold awareness workshops with senior management

Major shortcomings identified

Substantial reduction and rationalization of AD request portfolio

Sustained demonstrable improvement in achieving business value from IT investments

Project was so successful that many of the Optimize techniques were extended from IT to the general business

Irish Local Government Authority

Overhaul and rationalize an outdated approach to justifying IT investments

Streamlined and optimized investment processes lead to greater consistency, reduced decision time-frame and a platform for measuring achievement of business value

European wholesale, retail, distribution company

ERP implementer selection and negotiations

Very strong negotiation leverage and rapid contract development to commence implementation quickly

Implementation services very tightly controlled with clear responsibilities and a focus on performance with a fixed price

Pan European financial services organization

ERP software and implementer programme review and ongoing contracting support

Review highlighted weaknesses in the approach and recommended best practice

Client changed approach to streamline the process and get a better deal, benefiting from Optimize experience in similar programmes and negotiations

UK, European, Middle Eastern, Global banks, financial services, governments, NGOs, petrochem, pharmachem, telco, utility, etc.

ERP, HR, CRM, Core Banking, ECM systems and implementer selection and negotiations for many organizations (see Systems Selection Services) including hardware and software selection and contracting, implementer selection and contracting

Structured vendor engagement and procurement processes

World class contracting and terms and conditions, leading to lower costs

UK Government

E-Government outsource process assurance, deal development & negotiation support for a high profile joined-up UK government initiative. Awarded a government award for contribution to the department

Streamlined and effective public procurement process to suit nature of services

World class contract

Clearly defined services and SLAs

Managed negotiation process

Middle  East Government

E-Government outsource deal development & negotiation assistance for a large data centre (DC) and applications infrastructure. Optimize developed a co-management structure deal in direct negotiations with the service provider

World class RFPs and evaluation and selection approach

Managed partner selection process

World class service definitions and SLAs

Negotiated with partners to develop world class contract

Global Leading Brand

Business & IT sourcing strategy development, addressing Finance, HR, IT, and SCM in a planned shared services structure.

Shared Services and ERP programme completely restructured as a result of strategy

Shared services readiness assessment and key actions required

Organization, governance and skills realigned with business and IT objectives

IT process and service delivery improvement recommendations

South Africa / Global Precious Metals Producer

IT sourcing strategy development, deal development & negotiation support. All existing deals were reviewed and service processes state of maturity assessed across infrastructure / data centre, applications and vertical technical systems.

Review of IT and Sourcing Strategy and the alignment of existing internal and outsourced services to business and IT needs

Clear identification of issues to be addressed in existing outsource deals and IT organization and governance

Existing deals redeveloped and renegotiated to world class outsource deal structures, rather than being scrapped and starting afresh

Drastically improved vendor relationships, performance and deals

UK Government

IT sourcing strategy review and development for one of the largest outsource deals in the world

Improved IT vendor management organization and governance

Drastic cuts in retained team