process analysis blog posts

Path Template: Delivery - Implement Only

Blog: Biz-Performance, David Brown

This path is a subset of the normal Delivery processes. It does not include design or development tasks as it is targeted at a system that is pre-defined and non-configurable. However, the same (or greater) care must be taken with environmental, human and organisational issues, as there is less likelihood that an organisation’s overall needs will be fully addressed by a fixed configuration solution.

Ref		Process	Optionality	Definition

D110	Review technical environment and plan installation		Optional - usually required when insufficient detail was included in the Delivery Approach documentation and segment plan	Plan in detail the physical installation of the packaged software, additional systems software, hardware, communications equipment, servers, PCs etc. Note that increasingly this task is performed by the vendor.
D120	Plan, prepare and conduct project team training		Optional - usually required unless whole team have requisite experience in all aspects of the solution.	Normally, team members need training before productive work can commence. Training may also be appropriate for management and other staff working with the project team.
D130	Install hardware, communications equipment, system software, and applications software as required for development, implementation and live running.		Optional - required when insufficient provision is already available for the project.	Install and commission items required for design, development, implementation and live running. This includes system environment requirements, eg log ons, access security, accounts, budgets etc. With medium systems this is often performed by the vendor.
D180	Data Conversion Strategy		Optional - used where existing data will be brought into the new system	A study should be made into the needs for data conversion. Data availability and integrity is often wrongly assumed during design work. Recommendations will be made for securing data as required.
D300	Prepare discussion papers		Optional - discussion papers may have been identified in the segment plan or may be used to explore any particular issue that arises as the team see fit.	These are short papers covering a particular subject. They are not formally controlled, reviewed or signed off. Their purpose is to assist in the process of deciding an issue during the design work.
D450	Design/Prototype - Brief Implementation Papers		Normal practice	Design or define each topic within the project, using prototyping techniques wherever appropriate, documenting the recommended approach and details in a Brief Implementation Paper (BIP) per topic.
D190	Issues - control, escalate, resolve		Optional - used where there are several people involved in the project	Issues that arise during the design work are noted, logged, controlled and resolved. Escalation and tie-breaking mechanisms are used where necessary.
D720	Prepare and instigate operators’ instructions, procedures and manual		Optional - depending on suitability of vendor’s standard materials available	Prepare detailed instructions for the technical operation of the system, including routine and abnormal running, eg security, disaster recovery. This will normally include operational-standard JCL and the definition of human/machine interactions.
D730	Identify human and organisational issues		Optional - used where there are several users affected by the project.	Assessment of the required organisational change, and resistance to such a change.
D740	Implement change management programme		Optional - used where organisational change is necessary	Prepare and agree a plan for achieving the human and organisational change through communications, publicity, cascade sponsorship, policies, education etc. Instigate and act upon the plan.
D750	Prepare and instigate User Procedures and User Manual / electronic information		Normal practice	Human procedures should be defined and agreed as part of the functional design work. Manuals or electronic documentation of the procedures and how to use the system should be extracted from the implementation papers and expanded/supplemented as necessary.
D760	Plan, prepare and conduct user and management training and education		Optional - used where user and/or management training is required	Full user training is vital both to the successful use of the system and also to its acceptance and successful take up. An effective programme should be developed based on the identified training needs of all users and management.
D770	Plan, prepare and conduct operations training		Optional - used where operations staff require training	Computer Operations staff must be trained in running the application. They must be familiar with the normal interactions that are required and what abnormal conditions they might be expected to handle.
D800	Plan, prepare and conduct User / System / Acceptance and Integration testing		Mandatory	Formal testing must be performed to ensure that all significant aspects of the system are acceptable. Careful planning and preparation is required to ensure it is complete and comprehensive. Results must be reviewed and signed off by responsible users.
D810	Plan, prepare and conduct technical tuning and volume testing		Normal practice	The system will need technical tuning to ensure acceptable performance. Volume testing ensures that full volumes of data and transactions can be accommodated. Testing should prove that normal loads can be sustained and peak loads can be accommodated.
D830	Define, plan and agree handover / cutover		Normal practice	An analysis should be made of the logistical requirements for changing over to the new systems. Detailed timings must be considered and agreed.
D850	Define and agree terms of reference for live user support activity		Optional - used where post live support will be required	Analyse and agree the requirement and constitution of functional and technical user support for the live system, eg systems control, help desk, scheduling etc.
D880	Load start up data		Normal practice	All initial data should be loaded. Includes running of conversion suites and manual data entry.
D890	Validate start up data		Normal practice	Complete loaded data should be validated and signed off by the responsible user managers.
D900	Decision to go live		Mandatory	The ultimate governing body or manager for the project should take the definitive decision to go live. It must be certain that all vital pre-conditions have been satisfied to at least a minimum level, eg testing, data validation, training, organisation.