My Passion for Executive Information Excellence

Introducing Dr James Robertson -- My Passion for Executive Information Excellence

Engineers design bridges NOT to fall down 1. Passionate about assisting clients to thrive through the effective strategic application of business information systems. Particular emphasis on high value" thrive" executive level strategic decision support. Deep understanding and interest with regard to the fundamentals of planning and executing strategy. Creating competitive advantage through exceptional information at your fingertips;

2. Business systems trouble-shooter -- business system NOT meeting your expectations? Within a few days I will tell you exactly WHY this is happening and HOW to fix it – The ERP Doctor;

3. IT translator to executives – I speak business language and translate IT speak – you do NOT have to understand IT, IT people need to understand you – I interpret for you. A very different experience of IT;

4. Passionate about the value of people and the "soft issues" associated with the impact of business information system projects on people;

5. Completely independent, NO product, vendor or implementer dependencies -- I am on YOUR side and your side alone. Independent since 1989. Tough procurement approach that enables you to have a contract that fully protects your interests;

6. Results orientated, problem solver, inventive, proven own methods, the REAL issues in business systems. What is required to unlock the true potential of your business systems investment, achieving quantum increases in value delivery;

7. An engineer by training, registered Professional Engineer. Deeply believe that the implementation and operation of business information systems is an engineering endeavor. The ONLY way to achieve high value outcomes is by applying engineering principles informed by a thorough understanding of business, strategy, economics, data, psychology and technology. Developed an entire range of unique own methods, standards, principles and practices through applying this principle. When you appoint an engineer to design a bridge you get the bridge that you asked for and it stands up – I bring that certainty to business systems and IT;

I look forward to being of assistance to you.

Dr James A Robertson PrEng

Tel: 0044-776-862-2875

LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/DrJamesARobertsonERPDoctor

Random Selection of Articles by Dr James Robertson

TxM 035 Section 4: Important Principles

SNw 059 Strategy: What is it?

This article examines the fundamental defintion of strategy as the Essence of the Organizaiton and HOW it THRIVES.

Mzn 006 The CEO MUST be the custodian of ERP

TxM 059 Section 7.3 The essence of the solution

SNw 033 The coming demise of ERP in business

TxM 041 Section 4.6 Risks and common mistakes when developing taxonomies and configuring systems

TxM 011 Section 1.9 Why Taxonomy coding is important

SNw 021 ERP Taxonomy Essentials

TxM 031 Section 3.4 Knowledge and experience required for a senior SEPT taxonomist

Cnf 064 Engaging the Board in Strategic Information Technology Decisions

The Governance of Information Technology is fraught with difficulties and presents real challenges to the Board of Directors and particularly non-executive Directors to determine whether the organization is running this element prudently and effectively, this presentation discusses a number of factors to be taken into account in managing the technology

Random Selection of Articles by Dr James Robertson

TxM 052 Section 6.2 What is the JAR&A taxonomy software?

Prd 006 Components of the JAR&A StratSnap Strategic SnapShot Critical Issues Process

Prd 010 Considerations in developing a product catalogue

TxM 031 Section 3.4 Knowledge and experience required for a senior SEPT taxonomist

Std 010 Procurement: 02 Laboratory Approach to be Applied

The Business Simulation Laboratory is a fundamental component of a successful project. This document specifies the manner in which the laboratory will be run

It is vital to test the software and the configuration thoroughly in the laboratory with the express purpose of breaking the software and the configuration by testing situations that cause the software either to fail or to fail to return the correct result

One the software and configuration have been adjusted to the point where it is NO longer possible to cause failure then the configuration can be used as a platform for configuring workflow, developing and testing reports and business intelligence models, developing policies and standards, developing training manuals and interactive training material and training staff

The project should ONLY go live once all the above had been successfully completed and ALL staff are trained up in the laboratory

At this stage the Certificate authorizing deployment should be signed by all parties. As you will see further down the page this is a fairly onerous certificate and should ONLY be signed if ALL parties are FULLY satisfied the software and configuration is fully stable and all elements that are necessary for a successful deployment are in place

TxM 058 Section 7.2 The opportunity

Std 018 Procurement: 09 Table of Contents of Submission

The Table of Contents of the Tender Submission is prescribed in detail in order to ensure that different bids can be lined up against one another and accurately compared

SNw 045 Strategic Essence: The Missing Link: Part 3 -- The Essence IS Different

The strategic essence of the organization IS different, it is unusual, the competitors have different strategic essence or manage it differently, IF the organization is of any size and has been moderately successful then there are some KEY things it is doing that are unique and different

Cnf 011 The Benefits of Management Information Systems to the Professional Practice -- V3 Consulting Engineers Case Study

Case study with regard to a fully integrated business information system (ERP) with Cubic Business Model in the financial suite which delivered exceptional benefits in terms of management information and management effectiveness as well as substantial efficiencies including head count reduction and drastically reduced audit time and cost

TxM 041 Section 4.6 Risks and common mistakes when developing taxonomies and configuring systems

Dr James A Robertson PrEng

Business Systems NOT delivering?

Call the Business Systems Specialist

Dr. James Robinson

Dr James A Robertson -- has been involved in the effective application of Business Information Systems, including but NOT limited to ERP, since 1987 and in the profitable and effective use of computers in Business since 1981.

Drawing on a diversity of experience, including formal military training in Quick Attack techniques at the Regimental Commander level, Dr Robertson has developed highly effective methods of investigating any sub-optimal Business Information Systems situation -- be it an established system or a stalled project or any other source of Executive frustration -- quickly and concisely diagnosing the root cause of the problem and prescribing concise practical actions that Business Executives can effectively act on see the Pulse Measurement page and also the Sample Reports page for redacted real reports.

He has also developed highly effective methods of strategically enriching systems to unlock the full potential of existing investments, see the Precision Configuration page and couples this to architecting small pieces of clever software that harness the full potential of your investment, see the Software page.

If you are having problems with your systems, your project or your IT Department, call The Business Systems Specialist
James@James-A-Robertson-and-Associates.com

Business System Failure is RIFE -- we offer insight into why this happens AND WHAT is required to prevent it.

Failure is at epidemic levels with massive damage done to client companies -- if you are NOT aware of the extent of the problem please visit the About Failure page for a catalog of major failures running to billions of Pounds and Dollars.

All evidence indicates that the established players do NOT know how to deliver stable, reliable high value solutions that WORK.

There HAS to be a better way!

This website provides information relating to that way with a large collection of white papers, presentations, standards documents, etc that you can use to start bringing the situation under control

We also offer high level advisory services with regard to the application of the principles advocated on this website

We offer an ENGINEERING APPROACH to addressing these issues

By Engineering I mean the formal, structured, highly disciplined, highly systematic, highly practical approach that consistently delivers results in ALL areas of human endeavor where formally trained and certified engineers are the ONLY practitioners permitted to operate -- think large buildings, factories, motor vehicles, aircraft -- highly complex systems that work at a level that we take it for granted that they WILL work and where failure is all but unthinkable and, when it happens, attracts immediate public attention and rigorous investigation directed at ensuring that such failures are prevented in the future -- in fact, everything that the management consulting industry that implements complex software systems is NOT

This approach is discussed further on the Engineering Approach page.

Search Articles

Random Selection of Articles by Dr James Robertson

Sem 04 7 Steps to FIX your ERP

A new element recently added to a number of existing seminars and presentations outlining seven practical measures that can be taken to FIX your ERP or other business information system

TxM 059 Section 7.3 The essence of the solution

SNw 024 The Essence of Sustainable Wealth Creation

Std 002 Standards for Custom Software Specification

A set of outline standards for the specification of custom software

TxM 102 Taxonomy Manual Part 3: How to do it, Case Studies and White Papers and other References

Discussion of how to do it, real world complexity, challenges and opportunities, preparatory steps, design and development, coding conventions and standards, a series of case studies in which dramatic benefits accrued through use of Precision Configuration and other references

Std 016 Procurement: 08 Bid Adjudication Score Sheet

The Bid Adjudication Score Sheet is a set of weighted factors designed to focus the adjudication team on those requirements that are CRITICAL to the success of the project measured in terms of Business Outcome. Factors are determined in close consultation with the client Chief Executive and Executive Team

Cnf 011 The Benefits of Management Information Systems to the Professional Practice -- V3 Consulting Engineers Case Study

KnE 004 Governance – Leadership – Excellence

Prd 021 Components of the JAR&A StratGap Strategic Gap Analysis Process

TxM 003 Section 1.1 Why you should read this

Book -- The Critical Factors for Information Technology Investment Success

In 2003 I undertook an in-depth analysis of all the information and experience that I had gathered with regard to the factors giving rise to Business Information System failure including ERP and general IT and classified this information into a number of categories including "The Factors Causing Failure" and "The Critical Factors for Success" based on this I developed a two day Course "The Critical Factors for Information Technology Investment Success" which is still offered today.

Based on this I wrote the book of the same name, which is available in electronic form here for download: