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Project services

Data Agility's project managers have at least 15 years experience in managing business and IT projects that deliver real business benefit. This experience means they apply solid project management disciplines—risk management, cost control, resource management, change control and communication—within Data Agility's methodology that embraces

• up-front focus on benefits
• the art and science of project management including
• executive and steering committee engagement
• collaboration and shared understanding between business representatives and solution designers
• using the “right” approach up front to ensure projects are set up to be successful

As well as delivering program management , project management and business analysis services Data Agility develops clients’ people to enable ongoing delivery of benefits.

Data Agility’s mentoring programs focus on developing people and delivering business outcomes. Data Agility mentors have received professional training in providing mentoring services through the Australian Institute of Management and Dr Suzanne Skiffington world-renown clinical psychologist, professional coach and author of “Coaching at work” (McGraw-Hill).

Up front focus on benefits

Data Agility takes a benefits-driven approach. This establishes from the outset the commercial rationale for proceeding with an initiative, and the type and approach for subsequent project activities.

Data Agility works with organisations to determine whether there is realistic justification for undertaking an initiative prior to proceeding with a significant investment. This includes facilitating thinking among an organisation’s key representatives to enable focus on benefits such as

• winning more new customers or getting more value from existing customers
• increasing efficiencies from existing processes and systems
• responding to organisational change such as a merger or acquisition
• answering a legislated or "must do" requirement

Art and Science of project delivery

Data Agility strongly emphasises the application of data and the use of measurable facts in decision-making in its work. This is consistent with project management methodologies that typically concentrate on providing toolkits, templates and guidelines on issues such as scoping, scheduling, budget and cost control, risk and quality. These issues are critically important in executing a project to a successful conclusion.

However, Data Agility places equal importance on the “art” of running a project. This skill has typically been far harder to define than the “science” of project management and essentially turn a good project into a great one. Methodologies concentrate on the success of what to do in a project while the art of project management addresses how things are done, such as;

• How long should a risk be allowed to develop before corrective action is taken? Too early and the project suffers delays, too late and project deliverables may be at risk.
• Does difference of opinion among team members contribute to a balanced and acceptable outcome, or has it become destructive and is threatening the success of the project?

Data Agility’s consultants and project managers understand and practise this balance of art and science.

Agile thinking – the ‘right’ approach

Different projects and environments require different approaches: one size does not fit all when it comes to delivery. Data Agility deploys methods that are fit for purpose, for example:

• A project to offer a heightened customer experience through interactions via the web may be best suited to a rapid prototyping, exploratory and phased release approach. This approach increments benefits and continuously reviews whether customer expectations are being fulfilled. Project methods for this type of project need to support taking on new or changed requirements through the process.
• A legislatively-mandated need for new statutory reporting entails a very clear scope, most likely a known target completion date and negligible commercial benefit. Such a project expects an approach that tightly contains scope and timeframe and is focused on adhering to them.

In Data Agility's experience, it is this flexibility in project approach within tried and tested disciplines of structured program and project management that enables organisations to realise successful projects.

Project Services – scope

As indicated below Data Agility provides a comprehensive range of project services that includes

• program management
• project management
• business analysis
• mentoring
• project and technology assessment and evaluation
• visioning and direction setting
• planning and roadmap development