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

Lecturer contact details Name: Fergal Carton Phone: Office:Room 2.113, ORB Web: University College Cork Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

Consulting process Process of consulting –Understand the requirement Why is client using a consultant? –What is the value you can bring to project? –Writing a proposal –Estimating FTE’s Project management –Project phases and tasks –Project resources –Deliverables –Profitability of contract –Communication with client

2 basic questions How to plan and prioritise ICT investments? = IT strategy How to manage ICT operations? = IT organisation

Transition from project to operations Investments in IT take the form of projects Projects are often run jointly with consultants Once live, project is transitioned to operations The quality of that transition is key to customer value The relationship between consultant and client is a long term one

Case studies in first term Identify relevant framework to analyse case –Porter, SWOT, … Evaluate case using theoretical framework Identify key issues / positions / challenges Recommendations Lessons learned

Do we understand the use of frameworks? Help to talk about a subject They usually simplify to enable understanding Practice: your own career aspirations –What are the priorities you might have? –Can they be categorised into dimensions? –How could you visually present your aims? –Would the same representation work for others? No framework is perfect, as they lack detail However, communication can be enhanced

Marking scheme (draft) Continuous assessment completed (40%) Written exam, May (60%)

Sample questions (2007) IS consulting sector in Ireland PPARS failure and lessons for consulting Frameworks, value and limitations Gap analysis for evaluating vendor proposals In-house versus packaged approach Roll out strategy for ERP system

IS: the symptoms Overspending : need to rationalise Control: need to centralise Efficiency: need to standardise Unable to see return on investment Outage risk: too reliant on IT? IS organisation not performing

Opposing views of IT function Business Executives view of IT –Apprehensive –Technocracy –New feature focus –Little relevance to real world IT executives view of Business –Short-sighted –Lacking in vision –Unwilling to exploit IT Increasingly complex IT, rapidly changing economy

CEO view of IT function “Black hole of Calcutta” “What’s all the fuss about”? IT = operations

Why is planning important? IT tends to evolve, not follow a plan Difficult to align IT to corporate goals Perception of poor “value” from IT IT considered “too operational” IT can constrain as well as enable IT considered a major driver of cost

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 …

Sample consulting assignments Advice on cost reduction for IT function IT strategy, improve IT planning Develop requirements for new system Select and justify investment in new s/w Green IT audit System implementation –HR IS upgrade for UCC –ERP system for UCC –CRM strategy and system implementation

Other samples PostCode system for Ireland Strategy for emergency services in Ireland eLearning strategy for UCC …