Statistically, an organisation's chances of successful software implementation are quite poor. Recent improvements in information technology have helped, but it is still more likely that a new system will fail than that it will succeed. In this session, Iain Pritchard, technology partner at charity specialists Sayer Vincent, argues that the root of the problem lies in the procurement process. Sayer Vincent's Adaptive approach to procurement moves the focus away from technical functionality and, using a combination of process mapping, prototyping and assessment-centre evaluation, ensures a more reliable choice of supplier and system.

2. An Adaptive Approach to Software
Procurement
(..or, why ITTs are bad for your health…)
Iain Pritchard
Adapta Consulting

3. Aim of the session
• To explore some of the reasons software
projects are so prone to failure…
• …and what you can do to increase your
chances of success!

4. How many software implementations succeed …?

5. Some statistics
Chaos report – Standish Group 2010

6. What does unsuccessful look like?

7. So, why do software projects go wrong?
Rarely because: Actually because
• The technology is wrong
• Software is faulty
• The supplier is evil
• The supplier is incompetent
• The supplier is too small
• The contract is weak
• There wasn’t enough rigorous
methodology

8. Unfortunately, throwing money at the
problem doesn’t help..

9. …nor does a team of lawyers and a
watertight contract

10. So, what about a “sound methodology”…?
Bus. Case Req’ts Spec’ Contract Impl.
ITT Select

11. False comfort...
Senior managers and trustees like But traditional approaches to
the traditional approaches because software procurement often fail
they are: because:
• Staged • Most people don’t actually know
• Requirements-driven what they want
• Proven • Departments don’t talk to each
• Robust other
• Safe • Language does not clarify enough
• Respected • Formality excludes supplier and
ideas
• Recognisable
• Premature contracts inhibit

12. A more adaptive approach..?
Governance Business Short list and Specification
case and Prototyping and contract
key
processes
What the org.
really needs
and can
achieve

13. Weak points in the adaptive process?
• Short-listing
• Trustee / SMT confidence
• Supplier commitment
• Cost

14. Some discussion…?
?? ?
?
? ? ?

15. Thank you
Telephone: 00000 000000
Email: hello@adaptaconsulting.co.uk
hello@adaptaconsulting.co.uk
www.adaptaconsulting.co.uk
Website: www.adaptaconsulting.co.uk
Office Address: Adapta Consulting LLP EC1M 4BH
Adapta Consulting, 5 St John’s Lane, London,
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