A Project Online customer’s journey
Implementing an Enterprise Project Management System
Scenario
Financial institution heads to unchartered territory
Sarah* works for a regional financial institution in Australia. With 20-30 projects on the go at any one time, the company’s executive management team recently decided to implement an Enterprise Project Management (EPM) System. Sarah, as head of its PMO, was tasked with finding, procuring, and implementing an EPM system.
The business was not familiar with EPM systems but opted for a Microsoft solution, given their corporate licensing with Microsoft Office 365 hosted on Azure meant it would be a cost-effective approach. Sarah searched Google for possible implementation partners and stumbled upon Core Consulting Group (CCG). Impressed with what she saw, Sarah met with CCG and subsequently engaged them to implement Microsoft Project Online together with Power BI and SSRS for reporting and Business Intelligence analysis.
CCG influence
Providing a personalised process from start to finish
The business was impressed with CCG’s approach. Rather than convincing Sarah’s company to take an ‘out of the box’ or template solution, CCG began their journey through its ‘Concept of Operations’ workshop where they guided the business through each of the possible EPM tool functions.
CCG went beyond simply explaining the function by also placing emphasis on discussing the business’s readiness from a process and maturity perspective. The workshop outcome was an agreed set of high-level requirements and a sound basis for the development of the Data Dictionary and report mock-ups.
Wishing to keep business costs down, speed up implementation, and remain flexible, CCG went with a collaborative and iterative design-build-test approach rather than the usual ‘document to death’-then build-then test method.
This approach allowed the business to educate themselves and explore possibilities through the design-and-build process rather than somehow needing to know exactly what they needed upfront.
An example was the Issues and Risk module where options were discussed for rating and responses as the build progressed; plus, final tweaks were made once the reality of the solution was understood.
Outcome
Visibility and consistency in EPM reporting
Sarah worked with CCG through the EPM implementation, handling change, and communications using CCG’s advice and input, integrating training, and a pilot of the solution into the process. The outcome for the business was consistent month-end status reporting for all recognised high-risk and high-value projects.
*Name changed to protect client confidentiality
Case studies
EPM Implementation advisory services – Government department
Core Consulting Group (CCG) was engaged by one of Victoria’s State Government departments. With a large IT project portfolio, they were trying to manage them in an older implementation of Microsoft Project Server.
Project Management System uplift – Transport and logistics
Core Consulting Group (CCG) was engaged by one of Australia’s largest port infrastructure manager. With capital infrastructure projects as well as business and IT, they had a diverse portfolio. Having an existing implementation of Microsoft Project Server, our client was not happy with the way it was configured or used.
Project Online EPM Implementation – Engineering Manufacturing
Core Consulting Group (CCG) was engaged by one of Australia’s leading Engineering Manufacturers of stainless …
Project Online EPM Implementation – Health Insurance
Core Consulting Group (CCG) was engaged by one of Australia’s largest private Health insurers. They …
Further reading
White papers
Purchasing an EPM tool
Whitepaper – by Martin Vaughan
Are you ready for an EPM tool?
Whitepaper – by Martin Vaughan
Adapting to the Changing Nature of Project Information
Whitepaper – by Chris Dwyer
Articles
PPM Aligning projects with organisational strategy
Article – by Chris Dwyer
How secure is your EPM tool?
Article – first published on projectmanager.com.au
Before a PPM
With a new Calendar year comes new ideas and plans. If one of those plans …
Need help and trusted advice?
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