Situation
The IT Transition Program, consisting of eight parallel-running workstreams was initiated, aiming to separate the company and technology from its previous owner.
Terra Firma was engaged to undertake a Post Implementation Review (PIR) of the program, report achievements, outcomes, challenges faced, impacts and key lessons learnt, with a focus on action-oriented and implementable operations and recommendations for future projects/programs management.
Challenge
The client faced several challenges as part of delivering the original IT Transition Program. These challenges were identified as part of the PIR Report. The organisation was newly formed and many of the business functions needed to support the program were also at start up development stage. This resulted in the following key challenges:
- Project Management Office (PMO), Procurement / Legal and IT Support operations undergoing development at the same time as the program commencing
- Program complexity; coordinating and collaborating with external organisations and vendors.
- Misaligned scope and expected outcomes of the program.
- Technical solutions were being developed on the fly as technology complexity became better understood. This resulted in challenges with solution reviews, approvals, delivery and testing timing.
- External consultants did not effectively leverage internal change management processes and resources.
- Project planning and project closure techniques were not utilised effectively, impacting scope estimating and planning, and effective management of left-over technical debt as the program closed out.
- Program testing and cutover was compressed, resulting in business sites being impacted by a rapid approach to move from old network to new network.
Solution
The Terra Firma PIR Report identified challenges and successes as part of the engagement process and identified key actions. These actions were fundamental activities in preparation to support improve program delivery in the future.
Our Approach
The PIR Report was conducted through three key phases:
Phase 1: Pre-diagnostic
- Initial desktop review of program artefacts
- Scheduled sessions with key stakeholders, as appointed by the IT transition program
Phase 2: Assessment and Analysis
- Elicited feedback from key stakeholders and groups through workshops and interviews
- Organised and analysed outcomes through engagement sessions
Phase 3: PIR Report development
- Documented findings
- Provided walkthrough of PIR Report with project sponsor and program for feedback
- Delivered final PIR Report with feedback incorporated
Outcomes
The PIR Report outcome was summarised with stakeholder inputs from different perspectives, and with reference to key documents provided. The key observations and actions were categorised into four main themes and corresponding sub-themes.
- Business Alignment
- People and Technology
- Planning, Reporting and Controls
- Environment and Tools
A comprehensive PIR Report and an Executive presentation were produced including details of program successes, challenges, themed outcomes, recommendations, and key actions with priority.
The report assisted the client to implement a plan that could be overlaid into roadmaps for existing and/or future programs/projects to drive continuous improvement.
Benefits:
- Identified organisational strengths and weakness
- Identified program delivery successes and areas of improvement
- Identified implementable actions for continuous improvement and future program delivery maturity
