CIOIN

Alok Kumar

VP- Internal IT , TCS

---

In today's diversified environment, an organization's ability to successfully leverage new technologies and advanced collaboration tools is fast becoming a key differentiator. To enable this, organizations require comprehensive program management capabilities with a process-driven approach to deliver within budget and on time. 

There is a lot of information on how to be successful at project management. But, I'd like to highlight three areas we give importance to in order to maximize business value creation from technology-based projects.

Plan and prioritize initiatives using a benefit-driven approach. At TCS, we use an ROI model to push through the 'right stuff' (prioritized initiatives), at the 'right time' (aligned with business schedules), employing the 'right way' (using institutionalized delivery processes). Projects based on the ROI model, driven by a proven process methodology, and backed by a consistent review and monitoring mechanisms are most likely to succeed.

Before embarking on a project, the Change Control Board-representing business users, program/project managers and technology departments-captures stakeholders' expectations and ensures that a structured process is followed for decision-making.

"

Organizations require comprehensive program management capabilities with a process-driven approach to deliver within budget and on time

"

Leverage innovation and collaboration to maximize business value creation during execution. We engage with business analysts, who have in-depth knowledge of business processes and are well-versed with application systemsfor requirements gathering and documenting. During the requirements gathering phase we also involve stakeholders from cross functional areas at an early stage. For complex and heterogeneous systems, the use of a process modeling tool may further helps analysts and users review business, functional and technical perspective, using the same modeling platform.

This helps effectively translate business requirements into techno-functional concepts and create a next-generation solution models that form the building block of a project.

Facilitate reviews, cross pollinate best practices, and enable process improvement. For strategic programs and initiatives, we get involved in the review process to ensure monitoring and inter-group coordination. Regular project management reviews help us to address issues and risks early in a project' lifecycle.

Additional care is taken to ensure users training and communication (according to their role) during pre- and post-rollout stages. In scenarios involving a large and diversified user-base, spread across multiple geographies, a structured change communication program may be needed factoring the local and cultural needs of users.olved in the review process to ensure monitoring and inter-group coordination. Regular project management reviews help us to address issues and risks early in a project' lifecycle.