The Race

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-smith-bsc-hons-acih/a/979/351/

A recent trip last month to the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone in June, got me thinking about implementations. I was at the practice session on Friday and saw Massa crash his car, on the Sunday I even grabbed a nice shot of his blown out tyre. On the Saturday was the drama of Lewis Hamilton grabbing his pole position on his last attempt. Here he was, a Brit first on the grid.

Sunday and the race, after the Red Arrows had also had to back off, due to a stray plane in their way, Hamilton had the first of the tyre blowouts, putting him 28 seconds behind, at the end of the pack. By the end of the race however, with the help of a few appearances of the 'Safety Car' he came in fourth, a brilliant result, considering the situation.

Many organisations tend to see implementations as a race or a destination, rather than a journey. A race is generally over quickly, where a journey could be for weeks, months or sometimes years. Most implementations can take a year, indeed possibly 9-18 months can often be the best psychological length of a project. Longer and users lose faith, shorter and its too rushed. I must admit I am a big fan of the 'Big Bang' approach if the supplier is up to it. As a supplier I have done a good dozen or so myself and understand the risks and the joy of it all going right too.

Just seeing 'go-live' as the end game is where so many organisations go wrong. Plans to 'revisit' modules implemented with all their 'default' options, or as they worked with the last system are rarely revisited. Service charges and Planned Maintenance are often always 'Ever The Bridesmaids' and never destined to get 'hitched' to real users. Chances are your supplier charges you annual maintenance for them, but they are not in use. (Note to self: Get off and check those buddy).

For goodness sake, finish the job, get all of those modules in and working. If they don't perform as suggested in your procurement, put your foot down with your supplier and get it resolved to users satisfaction. Now it might not be a premier league result, you may be like Lewis Hamilton. Come in a respectable 4th out of a field of 18 and your system is going to deliver an awful lot. Give up after the first blowout (by your assets team) and you have let your whole support team down. Plus the man or lady who signed off the budget.

See, a little more thought and we can all be winners!

You can link with me on LinkedIn here - uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-smith-bsc-hons-acih/a/979/351/ It would be great to connect !

Read on to, Plan-A, fail to have one, you plan to fail

http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.com/2013/12/plan-a.html

Yello- The Race.


(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, please get in touch and let me know!

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Happens All The Time

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy
or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy


I was talking with someone who has worked in Social Housing ICT for over a decade, with various system solutions recently. He had recently been involved in yet another late system implementation and asked me, “Have I ever known any manage to go as per project plan or even just 3 months late”? After I had stopped laughing, I said yes, only one recently! This happens pretty much all the time.

He knew I had been an implementer once and managed a team of them. He also had been involved in one of my old implementations which pretty much went to time. He asked me how I had managed to pull it off and why they often go wrong.

Implementations can easily go adrift with badly trained, inexperienced or poorly disciplined implementers. That can hit profitability of system implementations badly, particularly if the initial sale has not included enough days. For sales people it is tempting to reduce days in the initial sale as it makes it more likely to win an OJEU process. The hope is that any missing days can be mopped up later, at (customer) cost, via Change Control.

Implementers are best motivated or rewarded for completing those days as efficiently as possible. Then they get better at their job. Incentivising implementation teams to ‘sell on’ extra days is generally a recipe for disaster. Short term it looks like it adds additional profitability, but is quite the reverse reputationally.  It rewards poor work, which experienced customers generally realise, adding insult to injury. Reputationally its shooting yourself (& your reputation) in the foot.

What can customers do to keep projects on track?

Well, do your best to use the project plan as a living document, would be a good start. Its not just a static appendage to the original contract. Force your supplier to keep up to date with it, revise timescales as things change. Also customers need to keep a tight reign on their own project team. To ensure the right staff attend supplier on-site or config sessions, ensure suppliers are pressed to provide overviews of what future sessions will cover. These can often be delivered too near to scheduled days or often not at all. This is not acceptable.

If this occurs I think its justifiable to be able to cancel a session, without penalty. If your supplier cannot define what the planned session is intended to cover, it should be deferred until they can.

Many projects are allowed to drift for the first few months, the excuse being that “there’s plenty of days in the project”. Lost days like this will no doubt be added on in the end, exaggerating the delays that can occur and potential additional costs. If you think it necessary, agree objectives for each supplier day and rate them when completed, including any follow ups required. Working together as a partnership openly is by far the best policy, to reduce misunderstandings.

Start well and ensure your supplier does too.  Start as you mean to go on is the best advice and hopefully it will set the scene for a more successful and on-time project.

Fingers crossed!

Related Post: Are Apps the best way forward for tenant self-service? 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

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I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

Depeche Mode - Happens All The Time.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.
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Journey Man

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-smith-bsc-hons-acih/a/979/351/

From cradle to grave (or womb to tomb as some say) is one of those journeys we all travel on. its uncharted for the individual and in that case no one gets out alive. For most implementations, all participants get out alive, although maybe with a few more grey hairs!

For many, a major procurement & implementation will be the only one they will ever be involved in.  This could be a whole new Housing Management System or a crucial component, such as enterprise wide mobile working.  As PRINCE2 rightly tells us, projects are different and require very different skills to the BAU (or Business As usual). Procurement and the whole process is anything but BAU and as I always tell my clients, is a journey.

To get to your destination in one piece, it's essential to have enough detail to be in the right place at the right time, and land with everything you set out with. Journeys often work better, if your party is the same size at the start as when you get to the end.

To that aim I always like to see some people in a project if possible, running through it right from initial inception.

By that I mean the people involved in helping to build the PQQ or ITT, for me I would like to see helping build demo scenarios and scoring bidders. I have encountered some clients who think that the hard work is over once a preferred bidder is selected and the contract done & dusted. Well, many regular readers I know, will understand the reality, that its actually then, that the hard work starts.

Suppliers rarely take control and do it all  making it happen, unless you pay a hefty sum for it be that way. Then you still need to on top of them, to ensure you receive what is needed, hopefully that is what was contracted. I won't go into that last point here, it's probably worth its own dedicated blogpost. Needless to say, suppliers can be suppliers, whether they are building you a granny flat or a new system to revolutionise your organisation.

Getting back to the journey however,  having some of those original individuals involved in the procurement for the wider project, is invaluable. They understand why the procurement took place and the interactions with the final suppliers. On this last point, sometimes in greater depth than the handover staff. See http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.com/2014/10/touched-by-handover-of-god.html

Many organisations I have worked with, end up with these seconded business people involved with the support of the new products implemented. Often within the IT team. I know some really good lettings and repairs staff who are now Housing Management System experts or trainers on their adopted systems. Change is a constant in all implementations, sometimes it enriches staff as well as revolutionises process and systems.

Related Post: In your last procurement, were you fooled?

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I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.


Jethro Tull - Journey Man.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.
File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning, Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL, CRS Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Accuserve,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013, DynamicAI, Dynamic AI, ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance, Financial Systems, Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Footprint,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housemark, HRA, Housing Options, Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Internetalia, Invu,Ireland,Irish,Inphase , IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH, Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities, Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus, Peoplevalue, PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,SimPro,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, SunAccounts Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tableau Business Dashboards, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, Totalmobile, Total Mobile, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley,worksConnect, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App .

Friction

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

Just the other week, I was asked, “Why do you think our project to install a COTS (commercial off the shelf solution), went wrong, over-ran and needed a budget increase of nearly £2m to complete”?

Its a too common tale and an interesting question and also one that I had limited scope to comment on, as I was not aware of the project in question, nor was involved in my current remit with the organisation. For sure, software implementations go wrong, friction occurs and this post will try to cover some of the key gotchas, around COTS projects.

Firstly, is a COTS solution for you?

Maybe it isn’t and you should be building something from scratch, particularly if you are seeking a particularly unique solution to a unique problem. Most problems are not unique and if you have peer organisations, successfully using commercial solutions, that should really be the first avenue to investigate. Why re-invent the wheel if you can see a number of solutions to compare and contrast and find the one that gives a good fit.

Choosing a good COTs solution is a bit like finding your life partner (and who is 100% happy with theirs?). All other halves have some irritating features, but no-doubt if you are still together, a great majority of things work out between you pretty well. Don’t throw the idea of a COT solution out because others have had issues. It can sometimes be difficult to get to the bottom of issues as organisations and managers rarely are comfortable sharing their failures. In practice, much can always be learned looking closer into what went wrong, ready for the next up-coming projects.

Many projects fail pretty early on, with the initial specification of what’s needing to be achieved and what’s needed from the COTS solution. A too high level or no spec at all is not recommended and always is likely to lead to receiving an initial bargain supplier quote. If your needs are vague, so will be pricing.

On the other side of the fence, back in the day as a supplier, I have often looked at an initial requirement and honestly determined it as easily done for £200k. I was generally carefully to detail exactly, what was included, which would generally flush out multiple missed additional requirements. Not all supplier sales folk would or do. My experience of many years doing implementations taught me that sales need to go better, otherwise the poor implementation consultants ultimately pick up the gaps later. That £200k could quite easily increase by a factor of ten, depending what was missed.

Costs should always be assessed and compared over the full contracted project life, typically five, maybe ten or more years these days. It’s a level playing field then for all.

Factor in all database licences, Cloud instances (you know, Live, Train, Test etc), additional software (MDM managers and security solutions) or hardware (tablets, laptops, workstations etc), from the very start.

Contracts are important and far too many projects I have reviewed, started with a poorly constructed one, or something I can recognise as a suppliers original, with little or no clarifications / alterations. In the instance of one client I worked with, a 108 page supplier contract had just been signed / countersigned at the bottom, committing that organisation to a five year minimum cost of over £700k, even if no solution was ever implemented or goes live. I was told the ICT director had ‘just signed it’, as it looked quite large and complicated. It was not balanced in favour of a more even relationship between client & supplier, even though the proposed product was just freshly released.

Which brings me on to another key area. Are we contracting to established and proven product? Does the solution exist at all, or is it just a ‘wire frame’ or cosmetic prototype? Are there any other live users, utilising it in the manner we expect to? If not, expect high risk, of to be perhaps footing the bill later, to make the solution work or finish it for your needs.

Risk is the third factor in what I would call the ‘holy trinity’ of procurement, together with well specified requirements and accurate cost. If your organisation has a relaxed attitude to risk, IE cost could be three times or more expensive or take 3-5 times longer than expected, a more relaxed approach could be taken. If like most Local Authorities, Councils or squeezed Social Housing providers, there is a pretty fixed budget and its absolutely needed live in x months, due diligence needs to fierce. Contract penalties need to be writ’ large.

So lets imagine we have our preferred supplier, suitable product and tight contract. There is plenty that can go wrong over an 18 month project. Client or supplier could resource it badly, both need to get that right, with my preference finding ways to get the A-Team involved. Quality and experienced staff, support better outcomes, go-lives and future system/process transformation.

Extended implementations are more costly and delay realisation of expected benefits.

While all projects can be expected to encounter some change control, that strong spec mentioned earlier, helps control what comes up and what’s valid. Where good contract and specifications have been available, over the last decade I have probably saved clients getting on for £1m in total, in rejected change control. Much of it due to supplier disconnect between sale and implementation, rather than sharp practice.

One last thought, keep your project focused. While this is a challenging prospect over perhaps an 18-24 month project, try hard to stay fixated on achieving original project outcomes. Understand when projects are drifting and challenge suppliers and your own team quickly, to keep on track.

While this has been a bit of a whistle stop tour of this subject, I hope its helpful to organisations considering or embarking on a new COTS implementation project. Comments or questions welcome – feel free to get in touch!

If we at Acutance Consulting can help your organisation with data issues, 

please just get in touch, for a friendly chat over a Jaffa Cake & a coffee ☕😋.

       Related Post: Complexity of solutions, can make it very hard to always 'Keep it real' 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

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I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

Television – Friction.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.

File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Affinity,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alfresco,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CEDRM,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica Saffron,Clearview,Clik,Cloud Dialogs,CloudDialogs,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Commontime,Community Reward Services,Company,Competitive Dialogue process,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Consultants,Contact Manager,Context,Contractor Systems,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,Crystal Reports,Customer Relationship Management,Cx, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Docuware,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365,D365,Dynamics365, ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion, Gas Tag,G-Cloud,GCloud,GDPR,GGP,GIS,GasTag,Genero,GeoSolveIT,Getting best from,GoTonySmith,Grasp,Grip,Group Apex, HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,HRA,Hardware,Hitachi Systems,Hitex,HomeMaster,Hometeam,HouSys,House,Housemark,Housemark survey,Housing,Housing Contact,Housing Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management,Homeswapper,Housing jigsaw, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keynamics, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MRI,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Microsoft365,microsoft 365,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,More IQ,MoreIQ,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid,MoreIQ NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plenfific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting,SQL Server,Saffron,Safron,Saturn,Scenario,Scotland,Scots,Scottish,Scout,Sequoa,Serengeti,Serros,Server,Service,Services,Servitor,Sharepoint,Sim,SimPro, Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Housing ICT,Social Housing Software Applications,Social Media,Software,Software solutions,Spotlight Service,Spotlightservice,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic,SunAccounts,Sunguard,Surveys,Streetwise, Swordfish,Sx3,Symatrix Human,System alignment,Systems,Systemwise, T-Files,TEAMS,TED,TFiles,TP Tracker,TSG,Tagish Casework,Tagra,Task,TAIM,Technologies (India) PVT Limited,Telecetera,Template,Terminal Services,That,Three Star,Tilt,TiltAffinity,Today,Tony Smith,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT,TonySmithHou,TonySmithHousing, ,TonySmithHousingITguy,Total,Total Mobile,Totalmobile,Trace,Tribal,Twitter, U2,UC,UK,UK Housing,Ukhousing,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,United Kingdom,Universal,Universalcredit,Universe,Unrest, Valueworks,Van Stock,Vantage,Vantage Sentinel,Version,Virtualisation,Visualmetrics,Voice,Voice and data,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, ...
. . . . . . . . . . . .

Exodus

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

“Leaving Babylon, Set The Captives Free”, sang Bob Marley.

Interesting today to notice the number of a particular software supplier to public sector and SocialHousing’s senior software staff on LinkedIn, now helpfully displaying a ‘#OpenToWork’ badge. Some folk I have worked with and many who have toiled in assorted roles, for that particular supplier for many years in some cases.

Its mainly Local Government product specialist staff from Civica I am spotting this week. Once you have come across a couple, its not a trickle but a tsunami. A proper exodus.

Justin Fisher, John Miller, Paul (Mr Cx) Berry, Liam Lindon, Peter Woodward, Clare Landshoft to name just a few. Some good people. At this rate, my old boss Richard Chambers (who I still owe a pint for assisting me ably once at Penrith Magistrates Court, with a spot of speeding! – sorry tricky), might be the last chap left standing. 

I hope for him he isn’t, however it can only be negative for future development of the Cx products, if most of the product design knowledge leaves the building in a hurry. The rush to get a recommendation sorted with Jeff Hewitt is justifiably on!

In November 2023, Blackstone announced its acquisition of Civica from Partners Group AG. The takeover was completed in May 2024. As with every merger and takeover (and there have been a few this year that the CMA are not raking over) I have ever seen, its always spun by the PR team as an ‘opportunity’ or ‘new era for growth’. A bit soon then just six months on, to be taking an impromptu haircut before Christmas.

What does this say about the housing products, is that maybe Cx Housing, Assets & Contractor development parked now? Is perhaps a brand new product planned? Why not get some hotshot games programmers in, using generative AI to cut code, save costs and write a brand new solution set? There might yet be some silver-lining here.....

Before that, I am sure from what some tell me in the sector, many sites will be still hoping their Cx implementations will still eventually get properly finished off first.

For sure, potentially some competitors, particularly ones winning big and delivering it too recently, will clearly benefit from this new talent source on the jobs marketplace. Failing that, they can join the growing band of ex-employee ‘specialists’, who earn good money shoring up implementations, once original project days are exhausted.

It is also coming up to Christmas and winter is one of the worst times to be redundant. I know, I’ve been there done that. If you have been made redundant at this time, take care and be sure to look after your mental health – its important and might save your life. Also remember, as one Glassdoor closes, quite often another one generally will magically open.     

Struggling making your project (or supplier) deliver?

Get in touch, for a chat soon over a latte & some chocolate Hobnobs ☕

       Related Post: When is a software go-live, really a go-live then?

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ *** Join the discussion with Claire & Aiden *** _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

Bob Marley and The Wailers – Exodus.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.

File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Affinity,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alfresco,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CEDRM,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica Saffron,Clearview,Clik,Cx Assets, Cloud Dialogs,CloudDialogs,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Commontime,Community Reward Services,Company,Competitive Dialogue process,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Consultants,Contact Manager,Context,Contractor Systems,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,Crystal Reports,Customer Relationship Management,Cx,CxFeedback, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Docuware,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365,D365,Dynamics365,Dynaway ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Esuasive,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,FLS,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion,Fuzzlab Gas Tag,G-Cloud,GCloud,GDPR,GGP,GIS,GasTag,Genero,GeoSolveIT,Getting best from,GoTonySmith,Grasp,Grip,Group Apex, HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,HRA,Hardware,Hitachi Systems,Hitex,HomeMaster,Hometeam,HouSys,House,Housemark,Housemark survey,Housing,Housing Contact,Housing Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management,Homeswapper,Housing jigsaw, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keynamics, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MRI,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Microsoft365,microsoft 365,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,More IQ,MoreIQ,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid,MoreIQ NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plenfific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QLX, QLF, QL Yuneo,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket,Rubixx, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting,SQL Server,Saffron,Safron,Saturn,Scenario,Scotland,Scots,Scottish,Scout,Sequoa,Serengeti,Serros,Server,Service,Services,Servitor,Sharepoint,Sim,SimPro, Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Housing ICT,Social Housing Software Applications,Social Media,Software,Software solutions,Spotlight Service,Spotlightservice,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic,SunAccounts,Sunguard,Surveys,Streetwise, Swordfish,Sx3,Symatrix Human,System alignment,Systems,Systemwise, T-Files,TEAMS,TED,TFiles,TP Tracker,TSG,Tagish Casework,Tagra,Task,TAIM,Technologies (India) PVT Limited,Telecetera,Template,Terminal Services,That,Three Star,Tilt,TiltAffinity,Today,Tony Smith,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT,TonySmithHou,TonySmithHousing, ,TonySmithHousingITguy,Total,Total 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. . . . . . . . . . . . ES | FR | DE | IT | UK

 

 

Whats My Name?

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-smith-bsc-hons-acih/a/979/351/

 
I am a big believer in giving bigger projects and implementations a name. For some reason, ones with a name seem to succeed better and usually these make me feel better, when getting involved.

I remember when I completed a technician apprenticeship in the early 1980’s. On the very first day it was explained that all the practical projects we completed should have our assigned number stamped on it. Mine was M508, I can still remember as I have a few tools I made on that course that still come out of the shed have it neatly stamped on them. Reasoning was that as apprentices we would take pride in having our number on our perfectly engineered projects. Much like a car has a neat badge on the front and back, rather than some 'erbert untidily daubing ‘Astra’ on the back, as the car rolls off the production line at Ellesmere Port.

A project name generates pride in the stakeholders involved and makes communication easier. This is one area that is often overlooked, although one of the key strands of a PRINCE2 centred project. One of the problems with ‘projects’ is that they are unique, different from ‘Business As Usual’ and everyone’s standard jobs, they are abstract. A name makes it more tangible and something most people can get their head around.

One great project name I came across was ‘OCRopus’. You can guess what sort of project that was, the name encapsulated it. First three letters explain what it does and it’s a clever subversion of a real word, unique and easy to find on the organisations intranet.

Another fun one was from a housing group implementing a new housing management system and having the broader aim of reaching three star status. They came up with ‘HMS Tristar’ with the sub-title ‘Get on board’ (geddit?). Others I have seen; Quantum (the minimum amount of any physical entity involved in an interaction), which was a project to increase efficiency through implementation of a new financial and reporting system. Also Amplio (not named after the political alliance in Uruguay as far as I know...)

I think the key is to make it memorable, if possible fun and with a link to the purposes of the project if you can. Where totally stuck a few turn to Japanese or Greek mythology. The lazy resort to random project name generators such as the one at http://online-generator.com/name-generator/project-name-generator.php

Beware though, you project could end up being one of these:

• Dreadful Jazz
• Remote Toupee
• Disappointed Door
• Endless Postal
• Teal Longitude
• Needless Bird
• Outstanding Gloomy Balcony
• Shiny Neptune
• Hideous Zeus
• Railroad Maroon

Better you come up with something more related to project objectives and the business area, I am sure your management team would thank you for that!

Read on, could Qlikview revolutionise your housing stat's presentation?

http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.com/2012/12/rear-qlikview-mirror.html

 

The Clash knew what was in a name "Whats My Name?".


(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk


File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking,Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics,
CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS Template,COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context, MD , Director , Housing software, UK, United Kingdom,Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,Finance,Financial Systems,Getting best from,Grasp,Grip,hardware,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, HousingIT, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld,Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,management reporting,Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Northgate,Notice,NROSH,OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,Plus,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid, QL,QLX,Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Miracle Software HouSys, Reports,ROCC, NINTEX , NINTEX workflow , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits, Servitor,Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, Systemwise, Factorwise, Blockwise, Block wise, Task,Terminal Services,Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, 07854-655009 , 07854655009 , 07854 655009 , "07854 655009" , tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universe,Unrest,Van Stock,Voice and data,Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Xmbrace,XML

Tour De France

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

This week, just over a day apart I had the pleasure of being at an inspirational session at the Civica Expo this week, hosted by Olympic track cyclist athlete Chris Hoy MBE, followed by an evening at the Manchester Velodrome at the Winter Ales Beer Festival. So a very interesting week overall.

Chris certainly was inspirational and had some gold nuggets for everyone I think in terms of describing the transition of cycling as a British success in terms of not major 10% improvements, but ones of fractions of a percentage that all add up. This is how I often feel with many of the organisations I work with. Chipping away at little changes, all combine to transform efficiency and service.

Chris Hoy MBE

You got to admit, small improvements are never sexy, at least as much as a big reveal, but essential. Don't let small incremental changes put you off. Its often a tale more of the tortoise than the hare, although I don't think we ever really realise it.

One thing I did see, were some significant improvements in at Civica Expo at Manchester Central, with how much the new housing system Cx has come on. While South Lakes & Railway HA are cracking on with implementations, it's looking closer to a lower risk option, with some great features. Well done to Civica for keeping focussed.

While housing is really just a small part of the Civica portfolio, there was quite a lot of streams devoted to housing. It was interesting to chat with a number of the current system users to talk about future plans. A big thank you to all the attendees who came to say hello and also to suggest subjects for this blog.

Cx the access anywhere housing system is certainly one to watch. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this years full HMS procurements, to see which suppliers are successful.    

Related Post: Presentations at conferences, great but easy to mess up

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

Kraftwerk - Tour De France.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

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Material Girl

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If your organisation has its own DLO, you probably have materials to manage and maybe van stock too. Handling these well potentially brings efficiencies and can reduce costs. Selection of a good partner who can work with you is essential, everyone is aware of the big four who operate in the sector, who can generally bring billing simplification and good value if pushed.

What can be done if an organisation works across a wide area or are very local or rurally based? The likes of TP, Grafton etc often locate facilities in urban concentrations, which can be problematic. There are ways of working with a small portfolio of material suppliers, without creating a whole mass of admin in the finance function.

Something many DLOs are looking at, is aggregating material purchases via credit cards. Barclaycard are putting a service together currently and this I believe this provides a pretty credible solution. Access is via secure VCF4 format and will require a secure FTP setup.

if you are a distributed set up, it's definitely worth a look. Get your applications software supplier on board. Obviously already proven implementations offer reassurance that your project should work well. If you are a pioneer, you may want to request a discount. Don't tell your supplier I suggested that however! 

     Catch the blog monthly archive at https://archive.org/details/@housingitguy

Related Post: Have you go ttrouble in your CRM message centre? 

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Madonna - Material Girl.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


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