IMPACT: A Fully Integrated Framework
I don’t see the point in envisioning a new direction, designing the details; making it happen and running a business transformation if the initiative takes twice the money, provides half the value and blows past its deadlines. Considering the number of times Infosys has been asked to step into business transformations already in progress to help correct course, I’m not alone in this thinking.
One of Infosys key success factors over the last few years has been its ability to meet tough timelines with remarkable outcomes. Managing a project isn’t new concept. It’s been around quite a while with a number of highly respected methodologies such as PRINCE2 and PMI. These are great approaches to managing projects.
So why so many failures?
At Infosys think it’s because the project management can’t be detached from a business transformation any more than your intended destination can be detached from booking an airline ticket. The transformation and the project management must move together hand-in-hand or things go the wrong direction.
When we started thinking about project management when designing IMPACT ™ we made certain that it accounted for PMI and PRINCE2, as well as Infosys’ own TRANSCEED framework to create something stress-tested and pragmatic. Let’s not oversell it – our PMO thread of IMPACT ™ covers what one would expect in a long and complex business transformation namely communications, scope, governance, scheduling, resourcing, procurement, financials, quality and risk & issue management.
It’s pretty hard to get away from these areas – for most including us, we’d consider these areas table stakes just to join the game. What makes our PMO different is the fact that it’s interwoven into the framework creating a pragmatic and thorough approach to helping (our) clients become more competitive.
IMPACT ™ blends strategy, planning and implementation of a transformation, while accounting for the special project management needs of large engagements. Separating any of these aspects considering the complexity and nuances of the task at hand (major changes at a company to become more competitive) isn’t only chaotic – it’s a recipe for less than optimal results.
We’re a little over a week away from Sapphire 2009 – our bags aren’t packed just yet, but we’re certainly ready to go. Please find us during the conference so we can talk IMPACT™ and your views about the best way to transform a business (or leave a comment).
Author Eric Rich, Partner, Consulting, Infosys Technologies
