Information Technology Effectiveness

We have developed a unique approach and a team of experts that have been successful at improving the effectiveness of the information technology organization and increasing the benefits from technology investments.

The improvements result from:

•  Organization clarity on the business strategy and individual responsibilities.

•  The business objectives for the project are clear with agreed metrics.

•  The project objectives are linked to the business objective.

•  The new business processes and organization requirements are understood.

•  A plan to transition people into the new organization.

•  Cross-functional teams are depended upon to drive the change process.

•  Strategic outsourcing to free resources for development activities.

•  The information technology architecture is detailed and transition planned.

•  Rigorous project management.

•  The cross-functional teams and project management are enabled by collaboration.

•  The vision for the future is sold by an aggressive marketing plan.

•  The entire organization is enthusiastic and knows what's expected of them.

The approach has been fine tuned at Andersen Consulting (currently Accenture), Sara Lee Corporation, Electrolux, American Home Products (currently Wyeth) and several venture capital lacked ventures. A typical success where we achieved synergy was reconfiguring the American Home Products Businesses in Western Europe, which resulted in a large annual reduction in operating expenses, an infrastructure that allowed the company to operate as a global entity and a significant improvement in customer service.

We are able to improve the effectiveness through use of our methodology (Method R), which merges best practices in personal development, teamwork and coaching with traditional project management methodologies to create an environment that allows synergy and quantum leap improvements in productivity.

Disciplines involved to achieve quantum leap improvements include:

•  Business Strategy

•  Organization Development

•  Information Technology

•  Change Management

Problem:

•  Large, continued over expenditure on IT initiatives.

•  IT initiatives continue to fall short of expectations.

•  A large % of IT projects fail.

•  IT organizations continue to under perform management expectations and agreed metrics.

•  Stained relationship between IT and business people and vendors

•  Roles & responsibilities are unclear.

•  Partnership arrangements aren't working.

•  Downsizing, re organizing and efficiency measures have reduced head count to minimal levels where people are stretched, unable to be creative and uncertain about their future.

•  Companies manage IT change by following with an orderly, well thought out, structured approach.

•  But, forget to address people and organization development considerations for both the new environment and the change.

 

The Solution:

What organizations require in order to achieve the optimal benefits from technology and effective "learning organizations" is the merger of solid information technology capabilities with organization development capabilities to allow people to be committed. This commitment can be attained by..

•  As Kenneth Blanchard said, "There is a great difference between simple interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something you do it only when it's convenient. When you are committed to something you accept no excuses only results."