Program and Management Services

Adapting proven tools and methodologies
to achieve the business objectives of
every initiative

Overview

We approach program and project management with a focus on achieving the business objectives, managing risks, engaging stakeholders, and partnering with our clients, working side-by-side with the internal team to resource the project. We support the early stages of a project from planning through authorization and initiation, managing procurement and vendor selection, and all stages of deployment.

We are adept at employing agile/iterative processes, as well as hybrid and waterfall methodologies. Our approaches and practices are pragmatic. We align with the culture of the organization, tailoring best practices with what works well in the specific environment, taking culture, constraints, and opportunities into account.

Our communication and stakeholder engagement skills are exemplary. We support clear communications at all levels, from individual work streams and leaders, to managers, executives, and oversight organizations.

Our range of offerings, backed by our team of seasoned experts, can provide the experience you need to minimize risk and achieve business goals.

ISG specializes in high-risk, large-scale, complex engagements. We believe that successful outcomes in our engagements are achieved by planning for the long term, building trust, and collaborating with all stakeholders across the enterprise.

ISG’s success as a firm is rooted in our expertise as program and project managers. Our company was founded on our members successfully managing complex, large-scale, multi-organizational engagements, some with budgets in excess of $150M.

Service Brief

Planning and Initiation

During the early stages of the initiative, ISG’s project management services include working with our clients to develop a clear vision for the project, goals and measurable objectives, define the “why” and associated high-level scope, develop funding and authorizing documentation, establish a governance framework, and early identification of stakeholders. Our expert practitioners also employ foundational approaches for managing the project in the Project Management Plan (a living document that evolves as the needs of the project change).

Key Deliverables

Decision Package or funding request
Vision and Objectives
Scope statement
Governance Framework
Project Charter
Project Management Plan

Procurement and Solution Selection

ISG is a premier provider of Feasibility Studies and Market Scans and Analyses. We assist our clients with delving into what solutions the marketplace offers, who the leaders are, and what other initiatives have experienced. The completed Feasibility Study includes cost estimates, lessons learned, and a recommended solution or approach to the problem to be solved. We are also adept at supporting RFIs, RFPs, and solution selection, including contract negotiations and vendor management.

Key Deliverables

Feasibility studies
Market Scan and Analysis
Cost Estimates
RFIs
RFPs
Negotiated Contracts
Vendor Management Plans

Integration Launch and Detailed Design

While the acquisition process is in the final stages, ISG prepares the organization to undertake implementation work. This includes educating team members on vendor methodologies, their roles and responsibilities, and developing protocols for how the work will be done. It includes work that helps accelerate the implementation, such as evaluating and cleansing legacy data, and establishing expectations with teams responsible for interfaces to the new system. We educate the vendor on the project and the team and socialize procedures and tools for managing the project. During detailed design, we work with the vendor to establish a strategy and approach that is the right fit for the project and ensure that the team is following the adopted protocols.

Key Deliverables

Readiness Assessments
Project Ramp Up Plan
Roles and Responsibilities
Client Team Education Sessions
Vendor Immersion Sessions
Project Management Protocols
Strategies and Plans for Work Execution
Detailed Design Templates
Knowledge Transfer Plans

Development and Testing

ISG ensures tight alignment between customer needs and configuration and development of the new system. This entails careful review of early work product to ensure that the established communication measures are working and updated where required. Detailed expectations and associated processes are established to yield high quality in system work. Our team prepares the client team for testing responsibilities and builds the defect management program. ISG and the vendor establish detailed entrance and exit criteria for each testing type and manage the work to successfully initiate and conclude each testing cycle. The ISG PMO leads the defect troubleshooting process, including communicating progress to team members and stakeholders and scheduling and planning re-testing.

Key Deliverables

Development Methodology and processes
Development Management Tools
Protocols for storing, documenting
configuration and development work
Testing Strategies and Plans
Test Processes and Quality Standards
Client Test Team Training
Defect Management Program
Testing Reporting Program
Entrance and Exit Criteria

Cutover and Production Support

ISG works diligently on final preparation with the project team to ensure that all critical path items have been successfully completed, that the established objectives of the initiative are being met, that the team and the system are sufficiently ready for deployment, and that all other criteria have been met. ISG manages end user training delivery and reviews the outcome of this effort to help determine readiness of user community for go-live. ISG leads any required recalibration, revision of strategies and approaches to best serve the interests of the project. ISG leads the team’s transition from project to program as the new system is launched in production and stabilization and user support programs are initiated.

Key Deliverables

Completed Knowledge Transfer Plans
Production Support Program, Processes, and Staffing
Go/No-Go Criteria
Project and Organizational Readiness
Assessments
Benefits Realization Assessment
End User Training Program
Production Support Management
and Reporting