business IT BSG Track Record Business Analysis www.bsgdelivers.com // @bsguk Version 1.1 1
Briefly BSG BSG (UK) is a niche business analysis consultancy. We bring deep technical and domain expertise to bear on design and delivery of IT enabled business change. BSG is a medium-sized, well established business and IT consulting firm with service capability from project inception through to implementation. BSG s core skill is business analysis bridging the gap between business and IT stakeholders. This enables BSG Business Analysts (BAs) to play transformative roles on projects at all stages of the delivery lifecycle. BSG s UK operation was opened in 2005. Since then, BSG (UK) has worked for a number of global clients including Siemens Financial Services, Cazenove Capital Management, BMI, HSBC, RS Components, Mitsubishi Electric, Angel Trains, Nature Publishing Group and a global insurance market. Globally, BSG has 13 years' experience in detailed analysis (process, data, systems) and this has resulted in a significant track record of ensuring that business is supported in making informed and accurate decisions on their investments. BSG s engagement model is based on outcomes-based planning with various tools that support the scoping, planning and management of this delivery. BSG makes use of tailored PRINCE2 governance procedures to ensure effective delivery and reporting against plans. All projects have a risk based tailored governance plan. BSG BA s all have degrees, typically in commerce and /or Information Systems. We find that this enables BSG BAs to have sufficient perspective to quickly appreciate and interpret the complexity inherent within complex business environments. BSG is actively engaged in the UK Business Analysis community, publishing articles (http://bit.ly/bsgukinsight) and presenting at the International Institute of Business Analysis (http://bit.ly/managingbacareers) page 2 Page 2
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A London insurance market BSG was contracted to deliver a web based solution to replace a legacy system which handled complex reporting requirements for its US and Canadian business. For this engagement, BSG owned the business analysis as well as the development (offshored to BSG (Africa)) and testing. BSG s engagement included Solution scoping and architecture Business analysis and requirements elicitation Offshore software development Testing and management of the project delivery. Benefits Easier data maintenance and reuse achieved by using central data repositories. Data accuracy and timeliness has been greatly improved. Centralised data has enabled market members to edit data at source rather than download, edit and upload. Data is now systematically assigned through the use of business rules rather than manually edited and assigned. Significantly increased accuracy as a result of moving a substantial number of calculations on-system. Provision of accessibility to geographically dispersed users as a result of deploying a web based solution. Out-of-date technology replaced with a.net technology stack. This architecture brings the system in line with the client s technology strategy. It also enables integration with the existing security architecture. Risk reduction by bringing first and second line support in-house (the incumbent supplier are no longer the sole support provider). Sustainability and extendibility has been improved as all business rules are now documented. page 4 Page 4
RS Components BSG was contracted to assist RS Components with implementing a new website that would better serve customers through a holistic customer journey experience. The new site would also be aligned with RS s strategy of catering for individual consumers as well as large corporations. BSG s engagement included Business analysis and requirements elicitation. Solution scoping and architecture. Functional design and wireframe composition. Benefits Faster website that gives customers much quicker response times than the old site. The website caters for different customer preferences, varying from detailed product views to high level product overviews. Better communication between the business and development teams resulted in less rework being required. Wireframe prototypes allowed business stakeholders to communicate the vision of the project to create buyin. The e-commerce replatforming project was successfully implemented and allows our 1.6 million customers in 32 countries to more easily search our 500k products to find what they want. This project was enabled by BSG s analysts bridging the gap between business and IT, ensuring that the best ideas on both sides were drawn into a structured requirement set which was then managed through to implementation. Mark Lenton, Head of Business Transformation page 5 Page 5
A selection of BSG s track record Barclays BSG develop robust HR business processes incorporating best practices and Sarbanes-Oxley audit findings to support HR Operations Model. The project involved the creation of comprehensive HR governance manuals containing detailed procedures and controls, and providing value-added input into organisational design/structure, job profiles and controls. Standard Bank BSG s relationship with Standard Bank began in South Africa in 2001. Since then, BSG has delivered in excess of 170 projects across all aspects of banking and IT operations. BSG conducted a business requirements analysis exercise to determine Standard Bank s cash management requirements. BSG then conducted a gap analysis against the functionality available in their existing software to provide recommendations for the business. Siemens Financial Services BSG designed and deployed operational processes for three key Group IT functions as part of consolidation into a pan-european regional structure. BSG aligned key processes with ITIL best practice and supported the change management process. Mitsubishi Electric BSG was involved in the implementation of a new SharePoint website in order to align Mitsubishi Electric s website strategy with current industry standards and new desired functionality. BSG s role included elicitation and documentation of high-level requirements, business requirements translated into detailed functional design including user interface design. BSG always operates with a strong customer mindset, putting the bigger picture first. This allows BSG to be recognised as a trusted advisor, consistently adding value through both detailed project work and strategic oversight Mark Lenton, Head of Business Transformation, RS Components Page 6
Business Analysis Centre of Excellence BSG are experts in detailed business analysis. Translating business needs into valuedriven technology solutions requires structure. BSG has worked collaboratively with a number of clients in the UK and Africa to create an internal business analysis competence at the client, including methodology, human capital, processes, systems and internal marketing and communication. It is important that these Centres of Excellence (CoE s) are sustainable beyond BSG s consulting engagement. Typically, BSG also work to support recruitment of BA s (using BSG s own BA recruitment tools), setting up BA career paths, performing BA coaching and mentoring and customising BSG s tools in the client s context. It is our belief that if we support clients to become self-sufficient in the BA space, we will become their first call when project demand exceeds onsite BA capacity. page 7 Page 7
RS Components CoE BSG was engaged to design and implement an end-to-end solution delivery methodology for RS Group IT. The intention was to allow the client to move away from a disparate set of change approaches across different technology teams which had resulted in developer-led solutions rather than business-led solutions. BSG s engagement included Establishing a tailored BA approach, supported by a methodology and an organisational structure. Championing the need for change across the business. Supporting RS with organisation design and subsequent recruitment of resources into the organisation structure. Coaching of new BAs in support of the design. Provided additional design capacity on a series of strategic projects both in order to deliver project benefit and act as change champions for the new approach. Benefits The changes were implemented over an 18 month period and benefits were achieved across four programmes: Software delivery outcomes are closer aligned to business expectation as a result of clearer communication of business requirements. Additionally, there is reduced project cost due to less development rework, reduced time in testing and early life support. Ability to ensure that the biggest benefit projects are delivered first due to improved ability to prioritise competing project needs. Increased business readiness for changes under development due to greater involvement in software design. Fostering a sense of collective achievement due to increased communication between Group IT and business stakeholders. page 8 Page 8
Nedbank CoE BSG was engaged to help Nedbank Group Technology with a training intervention aimed at uplifting an identified business analysis skills deficit. The specific goal was to design a Centre of Requirements Excellence to better enable the systems development lifecycle at the client. BSG s engagement included Conducting a skills assessment at Nedbank to determine the baseline of internal requirements analysis skills. Conducting training to assist Nedbank BA s in improving the baseline. Championing the need for change in the business through the design of the Centre of Requirements Excellence organisational unit. Institutionalising the business analyst career path by defining BA processes and guidelines. Benefits The changes were implemented over a 6 month period and benefits that were achieved included: Improved business analysis knowledge that resulted in improved requirements gathering across the organisation, resulting in change that the business actually desire. Defined BA roles and responsibilities resulting in clearer communication across Group Technology and an understanding of what is required to improve employees skillsets and therefore organisational performance. The creation of a new specialised organisational unit that embeds IT change across Nedbank and entrenches delivery accountability. page 10 Page 10
First National Bank CoE BSG was engaged to work in collaboration with FNB to create a BA CoE which defined the roles and responsibilities of BA s. The intention was to ensure uplifted analytical performance and delivery accountability across all projects at the client. BSG s engagement included Creating a skills gap analysis for each BA with recommendations for skills development. Improving the BA skills base at FNB through collaborative training and coaching. Documenting the BA life cycle in accordance with FNB s SDLC and detailing the documents, templates and tools required as part of the BA delivery role. Benefits The changes were implemented over a 5 month period and benefits that were achieved included: An implemented structured framework that allows for better understanding of what changes the business is requesting, resulting in IT delivering what was requested. Improved recruitment tools which ensure that the right BA s are hired by FNB. Defined career paths for FNB employees resulting in less attrition within the BA division. Improved BA skills within FNB that directly resulted in less consulting effort required from external companies, reducing costs. page 11 Page 11
Contact us London Johannesburg Cape Town David Reinhardt Regional Delivery Manager +44 203 416 6400 david.reinhardt@bsguk.co.uk 230 City Road London EC1V 2TT www.bsgdelivers.com Laura Greaves Business Development +27 11 215 6666 busdev@bsg.co.za 33 Fricker Road Illovo Boulevard, Sandton 2196 www.bsg.co.za Laura Greaves Business Development +27 11 215 6666 busdev@bsg.co.za Metropolitan Centre 7 Coen Steytler Avenue 8001 www.bsg.co.za Page 12