Iterative Consulting, Development & Deployment
Just as important as the actual solution will be to the organization, the development and deployment model can also have a significant impact in determining just how successful your solution is. In a world focused on outcome, we focus on process and planning to help direct the outcome. We know that if the planning and process are sound, the outcome will be there.
Our consultive methodology has been designed to ensure a comprehensive, systematic and consistent approach to successful ECM design and deployment. It embraces a holistic approach to both strategic, as well as, tactical issues associated with any project.
In particular, it ensures proper attention is given to the critical success factors required to implement enterprise content management solutions. Specific examples of these factors are:
- ECM familiarity and education
- Senior Management engagement and commitment
- Identification of the critical business areas/assets
- Shared vision linked to the business objectives
- Robust processes that leverage current business knowledge
- Enabling ECM technologies
- Knowledge worker skills training and management of competence levels
- Measures to gauge and demonstrate business benefits
A Phased Approach
The Iterative Consulting, Development and Deployment model uses a phased approach to enable both creative and structured thinking, planning, and implementation of an ECM solution.
Phase 1: Discovery and Strategic Planning – Basic understanding of ECM technologies and an awareness of the benefits of ECM technologies as it addresses both Strategic, as well as Tactical issues in the business environment.
Phase 2: Design and Development – is the phase in which an organization begins to transform itself to an ECM enabled environment based on the company-specific objectives, established and identified in Phase 1. This phase uses an iterative approach that looks to cyclically develop, test and improve the overall solutions design. In general, between one and three iteration cycles are required to develop the best solution.
Phase 3: Operational Deployment – is the phase in which an organization rolls-out either a departmental or a company-wide implementation plan with a holistic view of the ECM solution. Included in this phase is a sub-process of User and Administrative Training where both the new administrative staff and knowledge workers are introduced and trained to the new processes and technologies, as well as, take up new solution-related roles.
Phase 4: Measurement and Evaluation – looks to “reconvene” post Operational Deployment, to evaluate the process, and to measure and report on metrics that speak to the overall impact of the project, to the bottom line efficiency, and value to the organization.
This method is designed to be modular, so that an organization can choose to start at different levels, depending on its readiness, needs and requirements.
