The process for engaging with Arbutus Solutions is very straightforward. Our objective is to understand your needs and offer solutions that will address your business challenges and opportunities.
Steps
- We listen as you describe the business goal or issue you want to resolve. Typically this takes place in a meeting or conference call.
- We investigate further to understand the details. We inquire about your current processes and practices, and tools currently used. We then present some options and suggestions as to how best achieve the business goal. We may present a demonstration to ensure that your key decision-makers have a clear understanding of the solution being offered, and the business value that will be realized.
- We then review these options in a conference call or meeting, discuss your feedback, and answer any questions you may have.
- Once we have amalgamated your suggestions and inquiries, we prepare a formal proposal for the option(s) that are of greatest interest to your decision-makers.
- We then host a conference call or meeting to review the formal proposal and address any outstanding issues or questions. If necessary, the proposal is revised reflecting responses, and a formal contract is prepared.
- When we are all in agreement about the project, the contract is signed by all parties, with clear scope and deliverables defined. Arbutus Solutions then begins the process of designing your solution.
Our Delivery Methodology
Arbutus Solutions uses a customized methodology based upon Microsoft’s Sure Step methodology. Microsoft designed Sure Step for the implementation of Dynamics, their sophisticated line of enterprise software.
Our evolution of this methodology benefits each client by considering:
- flexibility and adaptability for each project
- management buy-in
- a crawl/walk/run adoption strategy
- a rolling, iterative process
- capability improvement plan
Our methodology defines process stages, milestones, roles, artifacts, cross-stage-processes and additional project management processes. We ensure we are addressing not just the software and technical requirements but also giving appropriate consideration to people and processes.
Our methodology has a focus on quality. Each deliverable is reviewed and signed off by the appropriate client resources. At the end of each stage we have a gate review with the stakeholders to ensure the project is meeting expectations, and if necessary make adjustments. We feel the air of collaboration and trust we develop through this process is key to our high rate of project success.
Normally while executing our methodology our Project Manager would engage in standard project control and management activities. These include:
- Risk and Issues Management
- Communication Management
- Project Performance Reporting
- Status Reporting
Solution Design
Our approach to the solution design process is to focus on usability and maintainability, while still ensuring we maximize the fit between the business requirements with the capabilities of the technologies being utilized in the solution (for example SharePoint or Project Server).
Our experience dictates that a higher degree of usability assists in driving adoption of the system and therefore assists our clients in maximizing the return on investment in this initiative.
Additionally, whenever possible, we minimize customization as we realize this improves long term, cost effective maintenance capabilities for the implemented solution.
