Case Study
Technology Implementation
The Challenge
Stratdel partnered with an IT consulting firm to deliver a new application/desktop infrastructure for a mortgage servicing and originations company. The goal of the project was to leverage the latest desktop delivery infrastructure components to provide an improved desktop experience for its users.
The challenges were immediate. In addition to modernizing an antiquated infrastructure, the customer gave the IT consulting firm a short widow to design, build, test, and pilot the solution for a large department within the organization.
The Solution
Focused on speed and customer engagement, Stratdel’s project management consultant implemented a tiered solution, built around agile planning, team collaboration, and best practice project controls.
Steps taken to help ensure the solution was successful included:
- The use of modern project management methodologies to develop an integrated project plan that allowed for continuous build and test cycles.
- Quick integration with the mortgage company’s infrastructure team to develop a relationship based on mutual respect, common goals, and collaboration.
- Establishing project controls to improve communication, track progress, and resolve technical defects.
Business Impact – Value
For technology implementations to succeed, projects require program management, change management and data management. Understanding these needs, we delivered value to the client utilizing our most important tool: experience. The goal? Implement a plan that best fit the scope of the project, while increasing user adoption rates within a new desktop environment.
The plan focused on the following:
- Continuous rapid build and test cycles to maximize effectiveness.
- Aligning a series of change requests around pre-established corporate IT maintenance windows and policies.
- Constant user engagement to increase buy-in and adoption rates of the new desktop experience.
The result? Stratdel was able to develop an integrated project plan that was focused on flexibility and rapid change, and structured and disciplined in its approach to achieve success in a short amount of time.
Business Impact – Process
Without the right project controls in place, it’s difficult to reach goals and achieve success. To keep the IT Transformation project moving, our project manager recommended the following controls to improve communication, track progress, and resolve technical defects:
- To accommodate the heightened interest from the mortgage company’s VP of Infrastructure, the assigned Stratdel PM sent status updates each day to address issues that needed management’s attention. The report also included activities completed and planned for the next period, and upcoming critical paths.
- To keep the project messaging consistent between the customer and consulting project teams, our PM established daily integrated check-ins with the teams to review progress, risk, and testing results.
- To resolve technical defects from performance testing, we recommended and managed a hypercare team that assigned defects to project team members for immediate troubleshooting and resolution.
Business Impact – Leadership
A consultant coming in from the outside can be concerning for an in-house team. As many do, this client initially had reservations. They wanted to know if a contract PM could lead and deliver on project requirements, while still maintaining cohesiveness with their team.
We assured them that our project leaders focus heavily on communication, honesty and adaptability – and we work hard to establish trust and rally team members to work together towards a common goal. We believe this ability to lead projects while remaining people-focused is what sets our clients up for success.
Throughout the lifecycle of the project, our seasoned consultant was able to help the organization’s in-house team to:
- Better adapt to change.
- Overcome existing and new challenges.
- Change course when necessary.
- Succeed in a fast-paced environment.
