Client Detail:
The client’s is a county agency whose IT Department develops and manages 90% of software programs used across multiple government locations within the County. Their application landscape is mostly custom developed to meet their unique needs. The client engaged with MSS Business Transformation Advisory to perform an application rationalization assessment across their entire portfolio of applications. This assessment would provide a visual where they can quickly create and update their software roadmap and identify applications to de-commission.
The Challenge:
The scope of the Application Rationalization project included:
Facilitation of Requirements Gathering sessions to determine the current application usage across their entire portfolio,
which would produce an actionable roadmap
Usage of Surveys and Custom Excel Templates to provide feedback on software programs used, development dates,
updates needed, future work planned and current support plans
Interviews with Focus Groups to develop current and future state process flow diagrams
Project Management expertise to support the overall application rationalization project
During the project, numerous risks and issues were identified and presented to the client including the need for formalized application portfolio tracking within a centralized repository.
Our Solution:
The MSSBTA Team consisted of a Senior Consulting Manager, Process Flow/Data Analyst, and a Project Manager. This team brought with them several industry leading practices as well as new tools to complete this project. After providing an Application Rationalization assessment and guidance for their roadmap, MSSBTA provided an Application Rationalization Template for the client to maintain after we left the project. A Risk Heat Map Dashboard was also created for the client to quickly view the status of all applications within their portfolio.
Their Results:
The client achieved the project goals and were left with new tools, processes, and recommendations to continue success. Some examples of recommendations included new focus areas for Application Rationalization, considerations to improve EA maturity, and ways to manage technical debt moving forward.
Deliverables:
Leadership, Governance, and Accountability
Facilitation
Project Management
Application Rationalization Framework
Portfolio Risk Framework
Application Portfolio Dashboard
Application Roadmap
Future State Process Flows