IS Consulting Process (IS 6005) Masters in Business Information Systems 2009 / 2010 Fergal Carton Business Information Systems

Last week High level view of IS Why is planning important? Questions 4-6 from 2007 exam paper

This week What do consultants do / not do? Contribution of consultant Basic flows of information A framework for integration Degrees of integration Integration examples

Why look to consultants? Experience lacking internally Unable to resolve an issue Haven’t got the resources Need an unbiased opinion Organisational gridlock

Do you know more than the client? No, you’re not in their business Organisations are large and complex In discovery phase, you are unique –Cross functional focus –Up to date –Neutral –Actual process (not Head Office version) “Internalise” what you are hearing Dealing with the “What do you think” trap

What do consultants do? Tell you what you already know? Guarantee project completion? Take ownership of issues? Energise an existing project team? Cost you a lot of money?

What do consultants not do? Give the answer up front Give their services for free Make a client look bad Replace client’s own staff Get involved in politics

Know-how that you bring to the table Frameworks to prioritise requirements Trading off requirements: you can’t do it all Awareness of best practice Project management skills Communication skills …

Basic flows Finance Sales Manufacturing

Basic flows Finance Sales Manufacturing

Inventory = common denominator Finance Sales Manufacturing

ERP integration: demand & supply Production Distribution Sales X X X

ExecutionScheduling ControlPlanning Performance visibility ActualPlan Resource visibility Physical Virtual A framework for integration

Degrees of integration Integration is a matter of organisational design as well as procedure –first degree: people talk to one another (informal) –Second degree: exchange of documents –Third degree: integrated systems shared by several functional areas –Fourth degree: single integrated system shared by the whole firm Substantial preliminary work is required for setting this up

Integration example: UCC Registration Student records Blackboard Student services Library Exam records Fees Payroll Alumni records Research …

Cork City Council Emergency Response In response to recent events –Flooding –Water shortage –Snow and ice –Electricity cuts City council asks you to think up a strategy for the provision of emergency services How do you go about addressing the issue?