Introduction:
Overcoming internal challenges can be necessary for many organisations to successfully embark on delivery of critical transformation projects. Programs and projects require specific skills to enable delivery, and these can be provided by experienced practitioners who are well versed in good practice methodologies and frameworks to deliver under pressure while managing senior stakeholders.
Problem:
A manufacturing business based in Queensland needed to clear some internal hurdles to redevelop their Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure platform.
The business had limited experience in delivery of internal ICT projects and was about to embark on a significant capability uplift and ICT asset replacement program.
Business confidence in ICT department delivery was low due to poor performance and outdated systems. The ICT team was primarily engaged in break-fix support for obsolete systems, which compromised their efforts to focus on project delivery, as they were tied up in day-to-day support activities. Additionally, the team lacked the necessary project delivery skills and tools, and there were no established frameworks or methods for project delivery.
Objective:
The business approached myP3 to supply skilled resources to design and deliver the Infrastructure Upgrade Program. The overall objective was to build a solid foundational capability to support and enable client delivery of subsequent planned projects to implement business-effective ICT solutions.
Overview:
myP3 commenced the project with an evaluation and engagement of a vendor partner to develop the ICT Enterprise Architecture Strategy and Roadmap. The current state assessment and new strategy resulted in the identification of six key technical projects which were run in tandem to deliver the new platform as quickly as possible.
These projects included:
- End User Compute
- Data Centre Upgrade
- IT / OT (Operational Technologies) Segregation
- Unified Communications (Voice)
- LAN Refresh
- Telecommunications Refresh.
myP3 managed program and projects delivery in alignment with recently established frameworks and methodologies developed by its team in a previous project. This provided much needed progress visibility and structure for stakeholders and project team members. To further embed the new ways of working, all initiative schedules, controls, documentation, and status information was captured in the Project Portfolio Management (PPM) tool to generate status reports and dashboards.
Effort was invested in upskilling the technical team and end-users to ensure adoption of the new platform and capabilities were managed in a sustainable and minimally disruptive manner. To ensure smooth ongoing operations, internal resources were actively engaged throughout the life of the program to work alongside vendor partners to acquire technical knowledge, build confidence and skills in operating the new platform.
myP3 worked closely with the change management team to ensure effective collaboration with impacted users through training and regular communication resulting in improved productivity and reduced waste.
Outcome:
The newly implemented robust, scalable and fit-for-purpose ICT infrastructure platform enabled the ICT department to align with business strategy in support of business objectives to:
- Maintain and grow viable commercial competitiveness
- Enable further innovation and rapid response to customer and staff needs
- Contribute to improved customer service and quality products
- Deploy business solutions and ICT services securely, cost effectively and efficiently.
With the successful delivery of the program, the ICT team transitioned from a reactive ‘firefighting’ business response to a proactive and innovative business enabler. The team gained an uplift in project and program delivery capability through hands on experience and guidance in using the newly developed and tailored frameworks, methodology and templates.
Additionally, the business’ project, program and portfolio management competency and capability was improved to a level that portfolio delivery was predictable and controlled resulting in increased senior management confidence in ICT.