Independent Assurance
Commissioning a major IT solution can be a major headache. Has the supplier really understood my requirement? Is the solution builder a reliable and capable service provider? Will the technical solution meet my expectations? Will it meet my future needs? Will it be supported in 10 years time? Will the supplier deliver on time and to quality? Will I realise the benefits I expect?
The world of software solutions is complex, the technologies constantly changing, and committing to a major expenditure with another organisation is a difficult and potentially risky business.
Entity understands all these issues, and has an approach that can mitigate the risks.
Entity’s Capabilities
Procurement
Entity can assist with all aspects of the procurement process. If you are struggling to define the requirements [particularly the non-functional requirements – a common and costly failing], if you need help compiling a tender document, determining the evaluation criteria, or selecting the supplier, then Entity can help.
Entity’s long history as an IT solutions provider, our continual pursuit of best practice, and our experience of providing IT assurance and related services means we are ideally placed to assist with one or all of these activities.
Project Assurance
If you are further down the procurement process, or you have even engaged a supplier/commissioned a project, you may still be acutely conscious of the risks involved in the development and delivery cycle. Entity can help in this situation, too.
Entity can add value to a project’s delivery by providing a bridge between the customer and the supplier, by validating the original project basis, or by policing/assessing the key project deliverables, or by performing technical or systems assurance of key steps in the project lifecycle.
Previous experience shows that this activity is invaluable, and can provide the following benefits, namely that the solution will or will not:
• meet the original requirements,
• be delivered on time and to budget,
• meet reliability, quality and security criteria, and
• provide a sound investment upon which your business can rely.
…and that the supplier is:
• reliable, honest and open,
• is likely to be in business in the future to honour warranty and support service commitments, and
• worthy of developing into a long term relationship
An independent assessment by an impartial assessor can expose the risks in time to implement mitigation strategies, or at the very least allow the situation to be managed properly. In some situations where there is maybe a breakdown in trust, independent assurance can fulfil the role of a mediator and resolve a common position and a constructive outcome.
Supplier Assurance
Given the complexity of projects and the variety of service providers, your concerns may not be so wide-ranging, and it may be that your need for independent assurance may be focused on the suppliers processes, or just one or two key steps such as:
• their quality management strategy [review their standards and methods]
• their configuration management [police specifications/change control]
• the appropriateness of the technical solution [system architecture review]
• the thoroughness of their testing [test assurance]
Business Assurance
Concerns may not solely be directed at the solution or the supplier, but the business climate or business conditions in which it will exist. Businesses change constantly, and this may prompt re-assessment of:
• the business case of benefits
• the risks and risk mitigation strategies
• the implementation approach or communication strategy
• the review and revision of the scope
User Assurance
Conversely, concerns may be centred on the users or stakeholders of a new system, and how it may impact their business processes, internal users and external parties.
• user/stakeholder engagement and involvement
• proving trials
• implementation strategy
• communication strategy
Further Information
Entity has a long history of providing such assurance services. If you would like to talk further or see further reference material then please go to our Contact Entity page and get in touch with us. [Entity would be happy to provide customer references, on a case by case basis. A number of client situations are subject to nondisclosure notices and we are therefore bound to seek our clients’ permission before any disclosure.]
