TOPIC: Independent Quality Review & Risk Management (IV&V) Services for Packaged Software Deployments (COTS)

This program will focus upon the important role that independent validation and verification (IV&V) services play in the success of large packaged software integration projects. Large COTS deployments are very challenging, to the extent that reports from the Standish Group document the gory facts as:
Only 34% of ERP implementations succeed with full functionality, within forecast cost and time frames
Cost overruns average 43%
Schedule overruns average 82%
Implemented functionality averages 52% of what was desired.
There are many drivers for these failings, but one of the most fundamental is an inability to rigorously manage the quality aspect of the deployment process, the people engaged in the teams, the work deliverables at the critical milestones and to effectively predict how identified quality defects may affect program outcome.
Traditional project management techniques provide adequate mechanisms for objective analysis of cost (via Cost Performance Index – CPI) and schedule (via Schedule Performance Index – SPI). These metrics, however, only confirm that the activity is “checked off” and not that the quality of the activity is sufficient to meet the business functionality required to drive the project to a successful outcome. The ability to define and measure Quality/Functionality via an unambiguous, defined metric is also critical to success.
This third metric, Quality Performance Index or QPI™, is ultimately a measure that shows that the system has fitness for purpose and achieves the business requirements. It also needs to be a measure of past performance and an early predictive indicator of how successful you are likely to be in subsequent steps of the project lifecycle
Traditional COTS quality review approaches are periodic and reactive, often identifying problems too late to avoid serious impact and with too little definition to justify early remedial effort. Traditional Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) services apply highly detailed analysis techniques, but typically only concentrate upon a limited segment of the deployment cycle (testing). What is required is a technique that leverages detailed, robust and trusted quality analysis methodology, targeted to critical success factors and major failure drivers via deep COTS functional experience, across all facets of the COTS integration life cycle
This session will offer insight into a COTS IV&V approach which embodies these critical components and explains how such a methodology can significantly improve the business success of large COTS deployments

SPEAKER: David Deakin, VP Operations and ERPWatch™ IV&V Practice Leader, Lighthouse Technologies

David Deakin is VP Operations and ERPWatch™ IV&V Practice Leader for Lighthouse Technologies, Inc. He has over twenty-five years’ experience in Information Technology, including more than ten years as a strategic leader of global IT teams, and over fifteen years as project leader for major international COTS deployments. His most recent COTS project was a multi-site, full process scope Oracle 11i ERP deployment successfully completed in ten months in a highly regulated, risk intolerant environment, through the use of structured, best practice based methodologies. He is currently working as Program Manager for IV&V on a major government ERP integration in Dayton OH.

Presentation Link
Independent Quality Review & Risk Management (IV&V) Services for Packaged Software Deployments (COTS)