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We offer consulting services in a number of key areas. In all engagements, the degree of involvement by our consultants (on a project or initiative) is determined by the customer. During past consulting assignments customers have asked us to:
- Participate by providing one or more team members to a project team
- Manage the entire project with our consultants, with subject matter expert participation from the customer.
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SIEBEL eBUSINESS APPLICATIONS CONSULTING
As a Siebel Systems Alliance Consulting Partner, we offer full-life cycle implementation capabilities to help organizations implement Siebel eBusiness Applications, and equally important the associated processes, training and change management activities necessary to make a project successful. We follow the Siebel Implementation Methodology (SIM) to deliver our projects. Many of the consulting services we offer are applicable to engagements involving Siebel eBusiness Applications. For example, project management, opportunity analysis, requirements definition, business case development, data conversion, infrastructure implementation, post-implementation support.
We offer the following types of skilled consultants for engagements involving Siebel eBusiness Applications: Configuration Developers, EIM/EAI Developers, Functional Leads, Testers, Project Managers, Process Development Analysts, Business Analysts, Change Management Practitioners, Training Curriculum Designers and Team Leaders.
SYSTEMS AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
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| Through these assessment projects, we help an organization determine if there are practical and compelling reasons to undertake an initiative to introduce an automated (or in some cases manual) solution to a business problem. In some situations the business problem may simply require further investigation to determine the magnitude and scope of the underlying causes prior to investing in any further steps. When conducting these assessments and feasibility studies, we validate the opportunity against the organization's current strategic and IT plans to ensure there is alignment with resources, budget, schedule and the desired outcomes of the business. |
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| If an initiative or project is being considered to address a business problem, we prepare the business case (with help from business subject matter experts) to determine if the initiative or project should proceed. By examining financial and non-financial aspects in the business case we quantify and qualify whether a project or initiative should be deferred, be canceled, or proceed. The business case takes into consideration, for example, the business climate, competition, legislation, systems and labour costs. We also assist in preparing the presentation for delivery to stakeholders and other decision makers related to this business case. |
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| We have application architecture experience which includes development of high-level and detailed architecture plans. The architecture approach defines how each system will participate in the overall architecture blueprint - for example, which systems would maintain master ownership of data entities and the scope of each system. This includes defining how front office and back office systems will co-exist (ie. billing, service order, sales, marketing and customer care systems). We have also had experience with workflow "middleware" products that are typically used to automate a business process flow, which has multiple interface linkages to legacy systems at various points thru the entire process. |
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| When a project or initiative has been given corporate approval to proceed, and there is a need to determine the most suitable vendor and/or system integrator that can deliver the proposed solution, we conduct a process which assesses the RFP's requirements against the potential vendors and/or integrators capable of delivering a solution for the customer. We prepare the RFP, conduct an analysis of the RFP responses, and make recommendations based on our analysis. |
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| We can help define and document your business/systems requirements through interviewing subject matter experts, examining existing business/system functionality and related documentation, and by us recommending any suitable requirements based on our prior experience. These requirements are typically weighted, ranked and prioritized, which helps identify the essential requirements in an overall list. |
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| Similar to requirements definition, we can help define and document your business processes through interviewing subject matter experts, examining existing business/system functionality and related documentation, and by us recommending process flows based on prior experience. We typically document processes in "swim lane" diagrams representing the interaction of functions to the business processes. |
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| Once a project is completed, we can assist or conduct an assessment of how well the project "worked" from a number of difference aspects (eg. achievement of project and business goals, attainment of project metrics, how well the project was conducted, etc). |
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| If you are looking for temporary replacements for any IS management roles, we can help staff those roles until such time that a permanent person if found |
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
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Meier & Associates Consulting has experience managing projects of all sizes. We focus on delivering successful results that are on time, within budget, and achieve customer expectations. We have effectively managed projects in the areas of systems development, software package customization, software implementation, as well as technology deployment.
Our comprehensive experience in project management includes analyzing project scope and determining the appropriate segmentation. We develop/revise project charters; provide cost estimates; develop project work plans and detailed work breakdown structures. We have demonstrated competency in directing and controlling activities of project teams to ensure that critical milestones are achieved. Also critical is the proper management of project financials, project scope (including change requests), and project issues. The essential component of project communications is also included within the breadth of our experience, as is the ability to provide guidance and direction to stakeholders.
A key element in our project management approach is our ability to establish and nurture effective working relationships with team members, stakeholders, and end-users. We engage projects with a collaborative approach whereby all team members support each other in achieving the established goals, deliverables and scope. This process facilitates the ongoing engagement and buy-in of essential participants throughout the project life cycle, and produces optimal results and user acceptance upon project completion.
From the outset, we ensure that key success criteria are established by the project sponsor. This allows us to measure interim progress and the final success of our project. Our project control activities are enhanced by our use of industry-recognized project management tools. This enables us to successfully maintain close control on activities, manage overhead costs, and deliver timelier reporting for ongoing communications.
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| In some organizations, many related projects could be simultaneously underway. These projects require management and direction (at a program level) to ensure a coordinated delivery of these unique (but interrelated) projects. We can manage these projects at a program level, to maximize the successful outcome of these projects toward the achievement of common business goals. |
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| Projects are typically undertaken with an expectation to complete them within a specified time and budget, and according to an established scope. Maintaining a delicate balance between cost, resources, schedule and scope is often a difficult, although fundamental, task. Under circumstances where a project does not progress according to customer expectations, we can assess the current situation and recommend steps to bring the project "back on track". If requested, we can also assume the delivery role to complete the project. |
SYSTEMS INTEGRATION
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| We can develop new applications and customize software packages to meet your specific business requirements. The actual construction of ground up developed systems can be done using industry standard software tools, whereas package customization may be restricted to the environment used to build the package. |
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Since many systems projects involve the exchange or transfer of data from a currently used system into the newly developed system, we can plan, execute and manage the data conversion activities for any project. Our consultants can develop the data conversion routines necessary to complete the one-time transfer of legacy data to the new system. Also, we have built ongoing interfaces between legacy systems and new systems which required the "translation" of data between systems. Our experience also includes the management of the team(s) responsible for completion of these activities.
Many data conversion projects require the scrubbing or cleansing of data in the legacy system before it is loaded into the new system. We have experience developing the software necessary to support the data cleansing activities, as well as managing the team members involved in data cleansing activities.
From a Siebel perspective our consultants have experience developing the EIM / EAI routines needed to convert and/or exchange data between Siebel and its interfaced systems.
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| We can develop test strategies and plans suitable for your system project or initiative. We also offer consultants with a testing background, including individuals with experience testing Siebel applications. |
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| During the project lifecycle, we can prepare the necessary plans for the implementation phase of the project. This typically involves the related systems within the project scope, any related interfaces, and any infrastructure changes (to networks, PCs, etc) that are required for successfully "going live". Once the plans are completed we practice these implementation plans by running "mock" conversion and implementation scenarios before the target "go-live" date. |
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| During a project we begin collecting information to plan the transition of the completed system into an operational support environment, based on the customer's support requirements. This includes ensuring that the right people (with the right skills) are available to support the system once it has moved into operational support status. Planning the operational support of a new distributed application that is integrated into the legacy environment of an organization poses many challenges as compared to traditional operational support processes. Issues such as version control, change management, integration testing, and scheduling the implementation of releases are more complex in this type of environment when multiple systems are dependent on each other. |
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| Once a project has been completed, we can provide consultants to manage the systems maintenance support workload for the application. We specialize in maintenance support for Siebel applications and other PC based application systems. |
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