applied insight inc

Common Characteristics of Software Projects in Crisis

*Severely behind schedule
*Over-budget
*Cursed with Murphy: Everything that can go wrong has
*Adverse and constant business surprises
*Worthless project plan
*Deliverables short on functionality and long on problems
*Low productivity development team
*Limited personnel with critical skill set
*Highly specialized personnel that lead to constant bottle neck conditions
*Poor communications between groups involved in the project
*Inadequate tracking
*Hiding mistakes or delays out of fear of consequences
*Undesirable Scope Changes

Under these conditions many business managers are frustrated, confused, unwilling to take actions without understanding the pros and cons of their options.

Services provided by Applied Insight TAS:

Risk analysis and contingencies
Gather facts, analyze both technical and business risks, define options, document pros and cons of each option, provide management level advice.

Project Mentoring
Provide advice and support to your own staff on the planning and management of new or existing projects.

Project Planning
Planning assistance for the development of projects including cost estimating, scheduling and advice on contracting methods.

Risk Analysis
Carry out risk analysis using proprietary software such as At-risk to assess project risk areas and recommend action to minimize adverse outcomes.

Financial Modeling
Develop complex financial models for investment analysis of capital intensive projects including both capital and operating costs.

Project Approvals
Manage the project "approvals process" including all statutory needs such as environmental and planning approvals.

Owner's Representative
Undertake the role of Owner's Representative in supervising projects including all technical and business aspects of the project.

Project Management
Undertake direct management of the project on behalf of the owner to achieve the project aims.

Project Controls
Set-up and maintain computerized project control systems and provide reports to the client.

Project Auditing
Project auditing and reporting including advice on contractual claims.


The Truth about Software Projects in Crisis
If you’ve ever faced a software project crisis, you know how painful it can be. As the project grows in scope, in schedule, and in cost, you’re faced with profound business consequences and mystifying technical alternatives—without any way to gain a clear understanding of their implications. It can be a virtual hostage situation, where you’re forced to choose between undesirable options or prohibitively expensive alternatives.
Who are you going to call?
A battle-tested, results-oriented turn-around specialist, with professional references, business savvy, school of hard knocks experience, a proven track record of documenting the pros and cons of all technical options in business terms, and the skills to execute on tough decisions. 303.798.1100
Benefits of a Turn Around Specialist(TAS):
In the software development arena a project that experiences a successful turn around is the result of: Business acumen Keen technical analysis Effective documentation of the pros and cons of every option Ability to weigh the technical options against the business consequences Execution of difficult decisions Minimization of the negative impact of difficult decisions
Why hire a team when a skilled TAS can do the job effectively?
Write, confidentially to tas@appliedinsightinc.com, to schedule a one-hour free telephone consultation to outline your options.Or schedule a two weeks flat-fee turn-around assessment, with no strings attached, and no long term obligations, to document your options.
No Obligation - One hour Phone Consultation
We welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can be of service and add value to your project. Should you require any further information about our services do not hesitate to contact Applied Insight at 303-798-1100 or e-mail: tas@appliedinsightinc.com

How can AII generate any substantive conclusions within a two week period?

Yes, it is true many firms have large teams, large fees and long time frames to carry out these types of risk assessments. Our philosophy is quite different. We understand that you are contacting us because your project is already in trouble, or because the options being presented to you are highly undesirable, or because you need a second opinion from a experienced manager/developer. Under these already difficult circumstances the worse thing you can do is to waste several more months before finding out if you even hired the right consultant to help you. We want to give you the opportunity to see our metal without massive cash or time investments. Is this the right consultant that can help you gain the information needed to address the problems? At a crisis situation hiring the wrong consultant would be adding insult to injury.

In this date and age of long development cycle a two week period is a very short time. But due to our 25 years of extensive software development experience, successful crisis management and TAS assignments, business savvy and people instincts we can provide you with a substantive report within a two week period. The assessments are structured as one week for project fact-finding; its objectives, its history, tools and people. We have a report back to you by the end of the second week and return at an agreed upon date to present our findings.

At the end of this two week period you will have answered:

*What are my options regarding this project?
*What type of budget options do I have to fix the problems?
*What are my options to meet my commitments and deliverables?
*What are the technical and business merit of each options?
*What are my risks areas?
*What is a preliminary project plan to move forward and execute my options?