Guidance and Advisory Services

Strategic advisory and project guidance services including project leadership geared to managing business information systems projects in a manner that draws on ALL the methods and principles outlined on this website directed at achieving a high value project outcome

<<< PREVIOUS SECTION: Tough IT and ERP Procurement and Contracting that Works

<<< PREVIOUS SUB-SECTION: Procurement Documents

NEXT SECTION: The Business Simulation Laboratory >>>

NEXT SUB-SECTION: The Art of Project Leadership >>>

Guidance and Advisory Services

Overview of the full range of services that are offered by James A Robertson and Associates

Strategic Guidance and Advisory Services

I offer a range of services to guide clients into achieving high value IT. ERP and Business Information System outcomes. These services are:

1.  Pulse Measurement

My premium offering, a highly effective experience based diagnostic service that in a short space of time, based on my many years of experience with such investigations, enables me to accurately diagnose the factors that are giving rise to your problems and prescribe the treatment necessary to remediate sub-optimal situations and turn around failed and failing projects.

See the Pulse Measurement page for more information – answers in as little as one day, generally NOT more than ten days and a no-charge warranty if you are NOT entirely satisfied after the first day of engagement.

2.  Strategic Advisory

Tailored advisory, typically following on from an initial Pulse Measurement. This can take the form of sitting with your CEO, CIO, CFO or other C level executives or with the Executive Committee answering questions and giving guidance, periodic progress review sessions either on-site or remote, ad-hoc consultation by email, phone or Skype, etc.

Remember always that one high value decision quickly and efficiently taken can make a huge difference. I can assist you to make those high value decisions quickly and efficiently, sometimes by being in a meeting for as little as an hour. A series of inputs like this, for example at a monthly management meeting, can help you realign and reposition your IT, ERP or other business information system management or project quickly and efficiently.

3.  Executive Briefings, Seminars and In-House Courses

I offer a range of Executive Briefings and Seminars some of which are listed on this website.

All of these can be delivered in-house.

These briefings and seminars offer you a concise and affordable way to bring your executives and managers up to speed on the REAL Issues and refocus.

Some of the course presentations are available on the website should you want to review the material or take a “teach yourself” session.

4.  Project Facilitation

I offer a service whereby I will facilitate a project whether a procurement process or a full business information system or ERP implementation

This will also take the form of periodic on-site sessions, off-site sessions and ad-hoc consultation as required in order to help you chart the course of your project and keep it on track.

This is a light touch service and your personnel remain responsible for what they do with the knowledge and experience that I share with them.

5.  Strategic Solution Architecture Advisory or Leadership

I can also provide advisory services in terms of high level advisory services with regard to documenting the high level strategic business requirements and resulting high level strategic solution architecture for your project as an input to your procurement project and thereafter, if required, to your main project.

This can include getting involved in the headline conceptualization of custom software or software customization followed by facilitating the detailed specification, development support, testing, configuration, training and deployment .

Going beyond the advisory role I can get on-board your project and lead the strategic solution architecture component of your project fully coupled to involvement with the Precision Configuration.

6.  Precision Configuration Advisory or Leadership

Going beyond the previous points I can provide specific advisory services with regard to the application of Precision Configuration principles on your project.

If required I can get more involved and join your project team to facilitate workshops and lead design taking you right the way through the entire Precision Configuration development.

A specific area where I can assist relative to Precision Configuration is to take your organization through the entire program of work necessary to create a high value strategically aligned Group Consolidation Chart of Accounts using the Cubic Business Model approach.

7.  Project Leadership

At the extreme level I can take over your project and run it for you, either a new project or a turnaround. I have developed highly effective techniques for running lean high value projects.

This can include formulating and leading the requirements definition stage, the procurement stage, the operational project stage and the final deployment and commissioning through to full blown live operation.

This can include negotiation, management, facilitation and other inputs necessary to give you a tightly run professional project that takes account of ALL the factors discussed on this website and other method and principles that are in my head but NOT on the website coupled to 33 years of experience with business information systems of diverse shapes and forms.

My services in this capacity can include some level of Strategic Solution Architecture and Precision Configuration – a full-house of core strategic services.

This is the best way that I can give you the assurance that you will achieve a high value, low risk, high sustainability project outcome.

8.  Mentoring and Coaching

Dropping back to the light touch side of things. In addition to the advisory services I can also assist with mentoring and coaching personnel who require the injection of new knowledge and method in order to perform their tasks to full potential.

This can include but is NOT limited to assisting a very technology oriented IT Manager to reposition as a Business Systems Manager through to assisting a CEO who wants to hold the reins of their integrated business information system effectively, to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to manage business information systems effectively. And anything in-between.

I look forward to discussing how I can be of assistance to you.

Dr James A Robertson PrEng

Download Strategic Guidance and Advisory Services -- White Paper in Adobe pdf format

Strategic Project Facilitation

Tough but fair and motivating guidance and thought leadership guiding ERP and IBIS projects to achieve high value outcomes within the agreed contractual framework paying close attention to strategic goals

The Fundamental Components of the ERP Doctor approach to IBIS and ERP Implementation

What are the fundamental building blocks of my approach to ERP implementation?

1. Engineering approach is critical
Engineers do NOT design bridges to stand up, they design them NOT to fall down – the principle fundamentally underpins everything that I do – design for success by ENGINEERING AGAINST FAILURE – refer to my book on The Critical Factors for IT Investment Success and other writings

2. Strategic decision support is fundamental
Support for strategic decision support and strategic alignment are foundational – if this requirement is NOT met failure is guaranteed – requires a high level of executive engagement resulting in practical executive custody and an implementation that makes perfect sense to executives

3. Fundamental top down solution design
Fundamental first principles top down solution analysis and design that is precisely aligned strategically is the next component – this requires executive level strategic (fundamental) discovery of the essence of the business and how it thrives

4. Precision configuration founded on precision taxonomies
Strategic Engineered Precision configuration founded on Precision Taxonomies is the output of the previous step – developed in close consultation with the executives, managers and personnel of the client organization in order to accurately model the REAL complexity of the business

5. Iterative systematic walkthroughs of the configuration with the business
Repeated systematic structured walkthroughs of the configuration with the business in order to progressively develop and flesh out the operational aspects of the configuration -- must progress hand-in-hand with the previous point

6. Clever, focused, strategic custom development
As the configuration design unfolds identify opportunities for clever, focused custom development in order to more closely fit and optimize the solution to the essence of the business – small pieces of clever custom development can add HUGE value

7. Then optimize workflow (process), etc
Once the configuration is bedded down finalize workflow, approvals and other policy and process design elements and configure these using the logic of the hierarchies to facilitate this configuration and ensure precision

8. Encapsulate standards in Computer Based Training material
Once the configuration is bedded down document all operational standards, policies, processes, etc and encapsulate these in Computer Based Training material with performance measurement capability – ensure that all staff pass these tests before they are allowed to operate the software

9. Development in the ERP Implementation Laboratory
All of this takes place in a laboratory environment which is used for testing, training, development of reports, development of the data warehouse and business intelligence environment, etc until the entire configuration is fully tested and all staff are fully trained – THEN ONLY go-live

10. Ten to twenty year plus investment life objective
All of this should take place against a planned ten to twenty year or longer investment life objective with contractual and staffing measures, including “the Right to Maintain and Repair” in place in order to ensure that such a long life span is attainable

I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this with you -- James@James-A-Robertson-and-Associates.com

Strategic Project Facilitation and Leadership

Over the years Dr James Robertson has provided Strategic Project Facilitation or Leadership on ERP and IBIS projects guiding the client to a high value solution

On these projects most of the other services offered by JAR&A have been brought to bear

Projects typically start with a Pulse Measurement then, in some cases move to Procurement while in other cases they move directly to strong Project Leadership on Turnaround engagements

Either way Precision Configuration and the Laboratory are introduced as critical elements of the assignment in conjunction with serving as a Strategic Advisor to the CEO

From Here:

<<< PREVIOUS SECTION: Tough IT and ERP Procurement and Contracting that Works

<<< PREVIOUS SUB-SECTION: Part 3 -- Executive Engagement, Bid Compliance, Adjudication and other matters

NEXT SECTION: The Business Simulation Laboratory >>>

Random Selection of Articles by Dr James Robertson

Cnf 082 A strategic approach to corporate planning, management and governance

Considerations with regard to governance of information technology and business systems taking account of the abstractness of information technology solutions

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

Std 011 Procurement: 03 Business Information System Requirements Definition

The Business Requirements Specification is a strategically focused document, that is it lifts out the essence of the business and how it thrives in a structured and weighted manner so that there is NO uncertainty on the part of the bidders as to the exact nature of the business

The strategic essence must lift out the fundamentals of the busines and particularly what is unusual, the elements that deliver competitive advantage and which are therefore the most vulnerable to inappropriate action

This is NOT the place for generic industry definitions or for long lists of standard software functionality -- development of the requirements specification requires a mature and highly experienced consultant with a solid understanding of strategic essence AND a solid understanding of systems and how systems integrate with the business to deliver high value outcomes

Civ 005 What is an economy REALLY?

Cnf 062 How To Ensure That Software Assets Deliver

Key factors giving rise to business information system investment failure and critical components of ensuring a successful outcome with particular emphasis on executive custody and managing the factors causing failure and the critical factors for success

TxM 001 Taxonomy Handbook -- Introduction

TxM 017 Section 2: Definitions and examples

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 055 Section 6.5 Benefits of taxonomy software

TxM 077 Section 9.1 Why your IT project may be riskier than you think - Harvard Business Review -- headlines

Dr James A Robertson PrEng The Business Information Systems Doctor

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.

Connect with James Robertson on LinkedIn

James has a very detailed profile on LinkedIn should you require further information about him.

You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/DrJamesARobertsonERPDoctor

James has an open networking profile -- click on "Connect" and use email address James@LinkedIn-at-JARA.com.

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:

Random Selection of Articles by Dr James Robertson

Web 04 On-Line Seminar (Webinar) on Presenting On-Line Seminars

This presentation discusses the preparation and presentation of on-line seminars

Prd 020 What are the critical questions I am not thinking to answer Regarding the Cubic Business Model™ (CBM™)?

Web 01 Simple steps to increase the strategic value from your ERP investment

Video discussing simple techniques that can be applied to drastically improve the strategic decision support information yield from your existing Business Information Systems

TxM 017 Section 2: Definitions and examples

Prd 014 Why adopt the JAR&A approach to precision configuration

SNw 044 Robust Procurement: Part 1 -- Introduction

An overview of a robust business information systems procurement method designed to ensure that a robust and enforceable contract is entered into before a project commences

Cnf 082 A strategic approach to corporate planning, management and governance

Considerations with regard to governance of information technology and business systems taking account of the abstractness of information technology solutions

Prd 034 The JAR&A approach to Enterprise level Charts of Accounts

TxM 063 Section 7.7 Design and development stages

Cnf 073 Critical Factors for I.T. Success in a Declining Economy

Ways of managing Information Technology to obtain longer investment life and greater benefit and return on investment from existing systems and infrastructure