Thinkronization Newsletter – December 2011
Thinkronization Newsletter – December 2011
Happy holidays from REMEDI Electronic Commerce Group. This month, we explore the Triple Constraint concept of IT project management. Triple Constraint refers to time, scope and cost, and how the three must be equally considered to deliver a quality solution.
- Time refers to the schedule or duration given to complete a project.
- Scope refers to the series of tasks that must be completed to achieve the end result.
- Cost refers to the allocated budget and resources.
The concept suggests that one constraint cannot be changed without affecting the other two. If one fails, the other two are destined to fail, as well. IT project managers must be concerned with the balance of the Triple Constraint to ensure that their end result delivers the defined goal, on time and on budget.
In this edition, you will find:
For IT Decision Makers…
Implementing A Solid Project Lifecycle Helps Avoid Losing Hold Of The Triple Constraint
As the decision maker, your key concerns typically involve the deliverable (scope) and the associated budget (cost). You may be the primary contact, serving as the project catalyst and funding source. These two establish where things fall on the third constraint, which, in this case, is time.
One way to avoid losing hold of the Triple Constraint is to implement a solid project lifecycle. While it is easy to focus on immediate needs, it is always better for the organization to focus on the entire infrastructure and how any change will impact the whole. Each project can be divided into four phases.
- The concept phase determines the feasibility of the project and early cost estimates.
- The development phase outlines the project plan, scope, financial resources and staffing allocations.
- The implementation phase includes the actual execution of the project from start to finish.
- The close-out phase performs final review of the project and receives final customer sign-off.
So why do IT projects fail? Insufficient planning, unrealistic deadlines, reduced budgets or undefined scopes all contribute. Managing the Triple Constraint, as well as realistic expectations and clearly outlined end goals, all contribute to a successful IT implementation.
REMEDI Electronic Commerce Group, a business and data integration software, consulting services, and placement company, can help you determine the best allocation of your company’s resources. For more information, please contact us at 614-436-4040 or inforequest@remedi.com.
For The Technician…
Systems Philosophy Keeps Cost From Undermining An IT Implementation
The technician, who is typically the systems architect, business analyst, or software developer, usually focuses on the scope and time facets of the Triple Constraint. Cost is of lesser concern to the technician, as their personal performance standards and the desire to have ample time to arrive at a quality solution often trumps their cost concerns.
A solid systems approach will help ensure that cost does not overwhelm or unravel a carefully crafted plan. This problem-solving approach breaks the scope down into the most basic of steps. Each component is examined to identify and evaluate all problems, constraints and needs. Alternative solutions can be explored to improve each component of the greater whole. This systematic approach helps manage the overall project and identifies cost and timing issues up front.
System management addresses the business, technological and timing aspects in great detail, allowing a project to avoid the common pitfalls of the Triple Constraint.
REMEDI Electronic Commerce Group works with organizations and business/data integration teams to develop systemic business strategies and training. For more information, please contact us at 614-436-4040 or inforequest@remedi.com.
IT Staffing Challenges…
Seasoned Project Managers Help Installations Run Smoothly
Human resources managers and technical staff are charged with aligning/scheduling contractors for an IT installation. In these cases, the focus shifts to cost and scope, with timing as the last component considered. The talent manager is also charged with getting the best supplementation resources for the least cost. This requires time to find such resources and affects the schedule due to resource availability at a given price.
If concessions are necessary in the cost category, this clearly impacts the quality of the resource that is available and impacts development time.
As a business and data integration consulting services and placement company, REMEDI hires top-notch IT professionals and experienced project managers who know how to carefully plan and execute system installations without falling prey to the Triple Constraint.
We realize that the examples we’ve outlined are simply scenarios, and professionals employed in given roles won’t always think like the citations above. Things vary based on organization and the individual ways in which people are wired. But there are always choices across the Triple Constraint and different people and organizations can rank the competing priorities very differently.
For more information about REMEDI Electronic Commerce Group staffing solutions, please contact us at 614-436-4040 or inforequest@remedi.com.
In Other News…
REMEDI Managed File Transfer Data Security And Integrity Webinar
If you missed our Managed File Transfer Webcast last month, a recorded version of the session is now available. View the recorded session.
This webcast outlined the advantages of a comprehensive approach to data and file exchange, and then outlined the IBM Sterling MFT product portfolio as a premier set of solutions to address the complexity and sensitivity of data and file exchange in today’s dynamic business environment.
In today’s technologically advanced world, globalization, digitalization and mergers/acquisitions are just a few of the circumstances increasing complexity in the file exchange process and often results in siloed solutions spread throughout the organization. This presents challenges for companies and individuals responsible for the exchange, security and integrity of sensitive data, and presents opportunity for those seeking an enterprise approach to file exchange.
Attendees of this webinar will learn the following:
- 5 areas your MFT software should address
- 5 reasons your MFT software should be management’s favorite piece of software
- 4 tools your enterprise is missing for ultimate MFT
IBM Impact 2012 – Innovate, Transform and Grow your Business
REMEDI, an IBM Advanced Business Partner, is pleased to be sponsoring and exhibiting at this global IBM conference which brings together over 9000 business and technical leaders from all over the world to learn more about WebSphere, BPM, SOA, Cloud, and mobile technologies and their impact on innovation, transformation, and organizational growth.
Join us April 29 – May 4, in Las Vegas, Nevada, if you would like to learn more about IBM B2B, EDI, MFT, and WebSphere Commerce solutions and our implementation of these solutions for our clients.
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Thanks.
Brad Loetz – President
REMEDI Electronic Commerce Group
bloetz@remedi.com
614.436.4040 Phone Ext. 108
www.remedi.com
REMEDI Electronic Commerce Group is a business integration services and staffing provider. We have served clients in the US and Canada since 1994. Clients come to REMEDI for our application-2-application (A2A) and business-2-business (B2Bi) integration niche, expert resources, engagement flexibility, quality / speed in resource placement, integration experienced account managers / resource managers, and our tenure in business.
The company installs, maintains, upgrades, and expands business/data integration and EDI solutions for its clients. Consulting Services provide temporary resources for projects such as integration infrastructure upgrades and ERP conversions, or staff supplementation to eliminate backlogs. Placement Services assist the client in finding the right full-time person for the client integration team.
