Digital Transformation – It’s Easy as 1-2-3-D
Steve Black, Programme Director at Agenor Technology reflects on his approach to delivering Digital Transformation Programmes in the FE Sector over the past 2 years …
Delivering successful Digital Transformation Programmes undoubtedly requires a flexible project management approach to meet Client requirements and review Supplier capability.
I’m not talking about Agile or Waterfall in this article – let’s leave that for another Blog – this about the value of ‘Experience’.
Many years ago, I recall a seasoned CIO telling me what the keys to successful project management were:
- Deliver to Scope
- Deliver on Time
- Deliver within Budget
… and of course, let’s not forget Quality throughout all of the above.
This is great in principle, but disruption and variance must be expected across the project life cycle, and hence my opening statement referring to adopting a flexible approach.
However, I’m also a very strong believer in structure and discipline and it’s my view that these are the real qualities that will ‘gain and maintain’ Client confidence.
With this in mind, I have developed a simple, repeatable project delivery approach that does 3 things:
- Listens to the current Client pain-points and challenges
- Builds an improvement path based on Client requirements and Strategic Objectives
- Delivers successful outcomes
I’ve labelled this approach: ‘3-Ds’, which is derived from a commitment to essential Programme Phases: Discovery, Definition and Delivery.
The Table below describes the ‘3-D’ Programme Phases and Deliverables for each:
Programme Phase | Description | Deliverables |
Phase 1 – Discovery | Due diligence is a critical phase of the Programme.
Definition of the current baseline is vital to understand, in order to state a desired end point. |
Phase 1 is not:
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Phase 2- Definition | To articulate a clear view of the desired end state and establish a commitment to sponsorship, deliverables, resource, timescales and budget. |
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Phase 3 – Delivery | To deliver IT and Business change across prioritised areas of the Client Organisation.
Clearly, until Discovery and Definition Phases have completed it is not possible to commit to Delivery objectives. |
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It has been challenging and exciting to work within the Scottish FE Sector over the past 2 years and extremely rewarding to see the positive business change achieved through the delivery of a Digital Transformation Programme.
It starts with a Client Vision and Ambition for Digital Transformation, which leads to the adoption of a Programme underpinned by ‘my 3-Ds’ … it really is as easy as 1-2-3-D!
A final testimony to this approach is articulated by the Vice-Principal of a FE College who held the vision and sponsorship of a Digital Transformation Programme I recently delivered:
“This has been an extraordinary Transformation Programme conducted under extraordinary conditions, during a Global Pandemic. Excellent team working and collaboration has been critical and with Agenor providing the strategic leadership for our digital transformation we’ve achieved our desired outcomes on time and on budget. I truly believe you have achieved something quite incredible”
For more information about Agenor’s Digital Transformation Services or to get in touch to arrange a chat about how we might help you, please visit our website here.
About Agenor – Delivering Change, Managing Risk
When considering Digital Transformation choose a partner who has a proven methodology and industry experience, understands the value of your business and can mitigate the risks and disruption that transformational change can bring for your organisation.
Having delivered hundreds of successful business-critical technology projects for medium-sized and large enterprises for over 15 years, Agenor is an ideally positioned partner to support organisations throughout both the public and private sectors to implement modern, cost-effective digital solutions.
From initial scoping, through to proof of concept, design, testing, go-live and on-going support our expert consultants advise you at every stage of the transformation journey to ensure your chosen solution meets your business requirements, now and in the future.
Steve Black, Programme Director