IS Consulting Process (IS 6005) Masters in Business Information Systems 12 th Mar 2010 Fergal Carton Business Information Systems

Last week Post Code for Ireland –What’s the overall objective? –Who benefits and how (stakeholders and advantages) –Processes Sorting Delivering / receipt / Dealing with mis-deliveries, errors, lost items Assigning new codes … –Coding parameters Location (geographic, political, parish, …) Use existing coding systems Significant versus non-significant coding Interface to other systems –What is the scope of this project? Is this about systems, processes or both? As consultants, what have you to offer?

This week Post Code for Ireland –Stakeholders, another view –Design –Implementation –Value proposition –Using a framework Describing demand and supply cycles –Existing case studies –Your own examples –Handouts

Stakeholders & Considerations An Post & Private Mail Carriers  Ease of use  Integration with existing systems  Interested Parties: - City Mail (Sweden) - Royal Mail (UK) - LECG (Global) Government Bodies & Research Institutes  Use for research & analysis  Eg, analysis of public services like Breast Check  Spatial Planning Emergency Services >improve efficiency >analysis of services Consumer -Without consumer buy-in the mission will fail -Ease of use - Future proof for population changes On 27 Feb 2008 the European Communities third postal directive came into force, mandating the opening of postal markets to competition no later than 31 st Dec 2010 Business Community  Integration into existing databases  Ease of use  Improved direct marketing effectiveness and efficiency  Reduce administrative waste

Some existing Irish coding systems Public coding systems –An Post coding system (eg. routes or Post Offices) –Parish numbers –Car registrations –Electoral register –Census –ESB / Board Gas (customer registration forms?) –Longitude and latitude Private coding systems (eg. mail order) –Telephone numbers –Mail order –Private delivery services –GPS codes –PON codes

Design of a new coding system What is good design? –Fit for purpose Understanding usage of coding system –Understanding usage –Requirements gathering –Process documentation (as-is and to-be) –Distinguish virtual flows from physical flows Underlying system design ERD Technical architecture

Implementing a new coding system Planning the project –Tasks –Deliverables –Resources –Deadlines Cost Who is the customer? –How do they know when the job is done? How is postman’s tacit knowledge captured Role of technology in bridging knowledge gap?

What is your value proposition What are you offering customer? Can you make this value clear? What way will you transmit the message? How can you check that it is received? What is your unique selling point?

How might you use a framework Help client to understand problem Help you to design a solution Help you to communicate benefit Help you to build a coding system Help users to understand code