Creating an IT Production Strategy

This Paper is the last of a four-part assessment of the issues facing IT Production Managers, and the Consultancy Approach used by Dennis Adams Associates Limited. The complete paper can also be downloaded in PDF format.

Consultancy for IT Production Management...

Challenges facing IT Production...

Client-Focused IT Production...

Creating an IT Production Strategy

Dennis Adams Associates works with IT Production Managers, to Audit the existing Management Environment.

Our Auditing Approach is based around four key elements, all of which need to be in place if an IT Production team is to succeed. These elements are known by the acronym "MOPS", since they consist of the following headings:

Category Description

Metrics What methods are in place for collecting and publishing key performance indicators, including man-hours, technical metrics (such as CPU, disk utilisation etc.).
These are essential in order to explain to the Business what the IT Production Team is doing, to justify expenditure, to identify "problem applications", and for future planning.

Operational Tools This includes tools for collecting the metrics, above, and also for delivering the Support function. In addition, we look at the extent to which tools are integrated (Help Desk fed from Asset Management, into Time Tracking etc.)
Tools should have historical analysis (e.g. help-desk should include problem resolution, so that subsequent callouts are not duplicated).
Tools are required to report current investment utilisation by user department or Application team, to capture man-days, and activity tracking within the team, to ensure that activity is aligned with the IT Production strategy.

Processes and Procedures How do the existing processes and procedures facilitate the day-to-day running of IT Production, and it's relationship with the Business Sponsors and IT Development.
Processes should be in place to facilitate Deployment of Projects to live, upgrade, change controls processes etc. Also, processes to support the changes to Production Standards (hardware & O/S upgrades etc., and procedures to ensure that IT Development work and Business Sponsorship is visible to the IT Production team.
ITIL guidelines can be used to review this.

Standards Are there technical standards within IT Production against which developers should develop solutions?
How are these Standards updated? What processes are in place for engaging with other technical teams to discuss emerging technologies?

Having created an IT Production Audit, this document can be used as a reference, in order to design and implement an IT Production Strategy to move the team from a "Re-Active", to "Pro-Active" state. Working alongside the Client Manager, we analyse the "MOPS" matrix, to determine where the gaps are, and prioritise the requirements.

Given our experience of IT Production, we can help the Client Manager identify the most appropriate Metrics, Operational Tools, Processes and Standards categories for their Organisation. This results in the final IT Production Strategy Document that outlines how IT Production can be changed from its current state to a more Strategically managed state.

Dennis Adams Associates can not only facilitate the creation of this Strategy, but also provide ongoing assistance and support in implementing the improvements to IT Production.

Click here to download a PDF copy of this paper: consultITP.pdf - 200 KB.