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Technology Strategy
In order to
succeed in today's competitive environment, it is
imperative that companies align their IT strategy with
their business strategy. An IT strategy can help answer
key questions such as:
Smart
Business FZE
(SBF) works with organizations on a range of IT
strategy solutions:
Approach
SBF combines
business and technical expertise to provide a systematic
approach in delivering an IT strategy. The SBF approach
is broken into three phases:
Analyze Environment
We emphasize
the alignment of Information Technology with business
strategy. All engagements begin with a clear
understanding of business strategy and documentation of
the current IT environment. Working closely with the
client, the team develops a future state vision of
technology and identifies any key gaps between the
current state and future state. SBF evaluates an
organization along three dimensions - people, process,
and technology.
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People - SBF works
with companies to
fully understand the
end goals of the
organization as
whole. SBF obtains a
clear understanding
of the roles played
by individuals
supporting IT
functions. In doing
so, a complete
picture of the
business's current
IT focus is
obtained. |
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Process - By
leveraging industry
knowledge of
technical best
practices, SBF
performs analysis of
the current
IT-related
processes. In
performing the
analysis, strengths
and inefficiencies
of current practices
are identified. |
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Technology - SBF
will perform an
up-to-date
assessment of all
current systems.
During this phase,
significant gaps,
weakness, and/or
risks of IT
infrastructure and
architecture are
identified. |
Develop a Road Map
A Road Map is
developed to provide a realistic plan for implementing
the company's overall IT Strategy. The SBF Road Map
includes the following recommendations and solutions:
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Establishes a
framework for tactical and operational IT decisions
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Pinpoints
opportunities which contribute to tangible results for
the entire business |
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Focuses on
both short-term and long-term results and goals |
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Addresses
potential issues and problems |
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Anticipates
changing business environments
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Recommends
additions and/or changes of key IT components
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Proposes
timelines for current initiatives and recommendations |
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Considers
budget constraints and limitations |
SBF believes
in developing strategies that can be implemented.
Because of our deep experience implementing large-scale
technology solutions, we work with clients to develop
Road Maps that provide realistic, phased solutions based
on experience - not the latest analyst report.
Execute Strategy
The ability to
develop a sound IT strategy is not enough to ensure the
success of an IT organization. An organization must have
the ability to execute strategy in order for it to
become a reality. We pride ourselves on the ability to
work with clients to execute the recommended strategies.
This involvement can cover a broad range including
assistance with program management, selection of
software and solution partners, and even hands on
development and integration of systems.
Program Management
More and more
companies are taking on increasingly complex initiatives
that require synchronization between multiple projects
or organizations. A Program Management Office (PMO) is
often a solution to these problems; however, many
companies are unsure where to begin or how to make their
PMO operate effectively. This uncertainty is fuelled by
the lack of understanding of the problem that will be
solved with the implementation of the PMO.
Approach
SBF works
closely with clients to facilitate the design,
implementation and operation of a highly effective PMO.
Our approach to establishing the PMO is based on three
core principles: understand you customer, define you
services, and specify your level of control.
Understand Your Customers
In order to
implement an effective PMO, you must first understand
your customer base. The SBF approach will guide you
through an exercise that will help you identify the
event or events that triggered the request for the set
up of a PMO and the challenges that the PMO is expected
to solve. Understanding the customer motivation will
allow the team to define appropriate success criteria
for the PMO.
Define Your Services
A PMO has the
potential of providing a vast set of services to the
enterprise. These services may be restricted to
reporting on project status or may be as far reaching as
development and rollout of process, training, standards
definition, and audits, and management of resources. SBF
will aid you in determining the right service offering
for your business.
Specify the Level of Control
The challenge
faced by all organizations is defining the level of
control that the PMO will have within the organization.
The PMO can be instituted as strictly a support group
for the projects or as a governing body that views
itself as a catalyst for change. SBF will work with you
to determine the level of control that coincides with
your corporate culture and values.
Once the scope
of the PMO has been clearly defined, SBF can work within
your organization to implement the new capabilities.
Services provided by SBF include:
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Definition of
the Office scope
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Assistance
with implementation and operation of a PMO
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Assistance
with the implementation of key PMO methodologies and
tools
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Senior level
mentoring of your PMO staff
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Independent
third party review of existing PMO operations |
Benefits
An effective
PMO provides many of the following benefits:
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