Clearpoint

Project problems? Generally not the tech.

Posted by Bain Hollister on 10 April 2010 | 0 Comments

Tags: performance matters, talent,

ClearPoint core competencies are IT Strategy and Architecture, Software Integration and Development and IT Project Services.  We are lucky.  Within these competencies, we have a fantastic team of with serious experience, track record and technical depth.  As client centric project people, we often get called on to assist with inflight 'problem' projects, technology implementations or the what-to-do-next questions.

The technology in its raw form (being product, dev tools, languages, platforms and infrastructure) is generally not the core problem.  The majority tend to be one or more of;

1. Incomplete or absent technology investment calculations, business case and/or ROI
2. Incomplete, absent, limited or unfocussed business process/requirements analysis
3. No Solution design (usability, integration, dependencies, non-functionals)
4. Big vendor + risk aversion. Over reliance on expensive off-the-shelf, out of the box, product functionality (that does not match business process)
5. Good money after bad. Tactical configurations, extensions, integrations of products from 4.
6. No full lifecycle planning (including TCO)

Symptoms  from above are a well trodden path - and doesn't take long until the IT cliches emerge. "Product Y is rubbish", "Vendor X has no idea", "Project Z is waay over budget and will never work".

How to avoid it?  'IT' in your business is not the email server or the help desk guy - it is the nerve centre+engine room+support system of the business all in one.  Technology is THE readily accessible tool, that NZ businesses have available now, to become better, faster more productive.

The catch is that IT needs constant consideration, and that applying technology requires the 'hard technology+business thinking work'.  Sometimes it is just asking the right questions.  Instead of "Can we get CRM", its "How can we use technology to help our business drive better relationships with our customers".  Instead of "Can we buy [vendor x] BI suite", "How can we better surface our data to provide the value add information to our business"

When in doubt, find some experienced IT folks - there's always plenty of stories and pointers for questions to ask .....