Strategic Road Map Development

A strategic road map is the high-level plan necessary to define a successful project.  Our process starts with industry overview sessions to discuss what other utilities are doing with similar projects and the capabilities of the vendors in this functional space.  Through executive and user interviews, we identify the critical success factors, priorities, requirements, and constraints for the project.  Then we interactively build a project scope for the project that identifies the phasing and sequencing of the project to include applications, integrations, staffing, etc.  Cost estimates can be developed, as required.  The goal is to develop a high-level project plan that documents your project and serves as the launching point to obtain project funding and then lead into vendor selection and implementation. 

Requirements Definition

A clear, concise statement of the business and IT requirements for your project is essential for project success.  These requirements are the baseline for business case development, vendor selection, and project implementation.  Requirements help communicate and set expectations for multiple audiences.  Through executive and user interviews, we expand our set of baseline requirements to document the needs of your project.   These requirements are then vetted against the original vision of the project to ensure the requirements are consistent with your vision. 

Business Process Modeling 

The adage a picture is worth 1,000 words holds true with business process modeling.  Whether it is documenting how you do business today or how you want a process to work after the project is complete, nothing makes that more clear than well done business process models.  The process models are also essential in assessing organizational change and training personnel.  We excel at developing business process models that are tied to project requirements and grounded in the capabilities of the solution vendors.   

Vendor Selection

The goal of a vendor selection is to pick the "best" vendor based on your combination of business and IT requirements, budget, cultural compatibility and risk. The vendor selection should set the table for a simple and straight-forward contract negotiations and a successful project.  The vendor selection should also have sufficient rigor to withstand internal and external scrutiny.  We have completed many vendor selections that have resulted in successful projects.       

Implementation and Vendor Management Services

For 17 years, we have been working with the software vendors that serve the utility industry.  With the experienced gained from vendor selections, contract negotiations, and implementations, we understand their strengths and weaknesses.  We can work with you to develop a scope of work and contract that works for both you and the vendor.  We can work with you to manage the contractor as you move through the project, face the multitude of design decisions necessary for a successful project, make trade-offs on schedule, budget and scope, and help negotiate the inevitable change orders that arise in a complex project. 

Project Audits

Your project is complete, but it doesn't feel complete?  You haven't achieved the benefits you expected?  We can review your project to identify opportunities to bring the project to a more successful conclusion.