Information Technology Modernization Strategy and Planning

Problem:  The client was relying on legacy information systems, which caused operational inefficiencies and prevented the company from growing and expanding into new markets. Over time, the operational problems also led to a stagnant “can’t do” culture within the IT department.

Goal: Fitzgerald Analytics was asked to develop and implement an IT strategy that would modernize the existing systems as well as expand the capabilities of the IT team.

Approach:  

• Current State Assessment: FA documented the legacy system and identified major IT-related pain points that impeded the client’s growth.
• Opportunities for Improvement: FA identified specific components of the legacy system that need to be modernized in order to resolve those pain points, and listed high-level requirements and criteria that the modernized components must fulfill.
• Overall Vision: FA developed and facilitated a well-defined process that allowed the client to generate hypotheses about which technology options would best fulfill the proposed requirements. Based on those hypotheses, potential vendors proposed system configurations that satisfy the client’s needs. One of those proposals was chosen as the preferred vision for the modernized system.
• Implementation Plan: FA developed a plan to gradually transition the client’s IT systems to the modernized system. Implementation will begin with a pilot project that modernizes a relatively small but important component of the overall system, allowing for testing and refining of the technology hypotheses. The initial system will then grow by modernizing additional components, gradually moving more functionality off the legacy system. A service-oriented architecture will allow the modernized components to work together with remaining legacy components.

All work is being done in close collaboration with the client’s IT department. This approach was chosen in order to leverage the client’s knowledge of the legacy system and processes, and expand the IT department’s capabilities and transform its culture.

Result:  The client has developed a clear vision for the modernized system and FA is currently in the process of helping the client create requirements for the initial pilot project. Thanks to clear goals and steady progress, the IT department’s culture and morale have undergone a major transformation and the IT team is able to take on a greater leadership role in the project. This project is in progress.