PM Software Needs Analysis and Deployment
The amount and capabilities of new or upgraded PM software is bewildering even to people familiar with traditional scheduling systems. One of Utowna's most frequently requested services is to assist firms in evaluating their PM information system needs and to match them to available, proven, cost effective software packages. Over the last several years, interest in PM software has grown rapidly as more companies have become aware of their project orientation. Organizational and economic conditions stimulating the movement toward PM software usage include:
- Team oriented work
- Shorter project life cycles
- Emphasis on Communication/ Collaboration
- Global competition
- Scarcity of resources
PM software needs are sensitive to the degree of PM maturity the firm and/or its employees possess. Needs can run the gambit between facilitating team collaboration or brainstorming efforts to instances where the firm desires a PM system to guide the strategic directions of the organization.
There are significant risks in attempting to navigate the PM software acquisition and implementation route without knowledgeable professional assistance. The major risks include:
- Selection of an inappropriate package
- Overpayment for software, installation services, or both
- Choice of unfinished or “cobbled together” package
- Choice of inappropriate decision support model (software package provides non actionable data)
- Operating cost of system exceeds value
These risks are higher than those associated with “normal” system installations due to the newness of the enterprise PM field, the consolidations of the vendors, the difficulty in separating fact from fiction in terms of software functionality, the lack of experienced I/S personnel typically involved in the acquisition efforts, and the degree of urgency oftentimes associated with a PM software acquisition effort.
Utowna Associates is uniquely qualified to provide PM software support services because of its experiences developing commercial PM enterprise software, customizing and installing it in a variety of institutional environments. The scope of a needs assessment generally consists of the following steps:
- PM maturity survey
- Inventory of existing conditions
- Recommended PM methodology improvements and/or organizational enhancements required prior to adoption of any PM software
- PM software needs
- Evaluation of software packages/Recommendation of five packages
- Recommended Implementation program for selected package
Installation services consist of assisting an inhouse team to under take a phased implementation process consisting of process changes and software functionality implementations. Utowna facilitates the team to develop and implement a migration plan from current systems to the selected system.
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