IT Project Assurance

Implementing a new technology solution is fraught with difficulties and complexity. There are many well documented examples where projects have failed with adverse strategic, financial and reputation implications for the business. Why does this happen? Simply, sustainable change is difficult if not managed generate a number of significant issues including large overruns, deliverables which are late and a solution which may not be fit for purpose.  

BDO’s Technology Project Assurance services will provide the independent ‘critical friend’ challenge and insight you require.  Our methodology focuses on the seven layers that provide the key foundations for every project. We can tailor our approach to meet your specific requirements, with all or some of the layers being in-scope to review:

• Project Initiation

How a project is set up will have a strong bearing on the outcomes.  Our methodology will evaluate the key attributes required at this stage, including stakeholder engagement, steering committee structure, project sponsor appointment and role, project methodology to be used, governance model to be adopted, allocation of key roles and responsibilities, project objectives and milestones, key project risks, financial management, escalation protocols, use of Key Performance Indicators and Critical Success Factors. 

• Specification and Procurement

We will assess how the technical, business and functional specifications have been developed to ensure appropriate representation exists from across the business.  Equally important we will evaluate the procurement approach used to ensure the best value for money is secured and any commercial arrangements are robust.

• Design Effectiveness

We will evaluate how the design will meet the specification requirements of the various stakeholders. Whilst assessing the design, we will also evaluate whether the numerous IT risks and controls have been considered (by illustration, one of the many risks to consider will be the security risks relevant to the new technology solution – our methodology will identify the threats and evaluate if the controls as designed are effective).

• Project Management

The fieldwork will evaluate the project management fundamentals to ensure they are appropriate (for example, project risk management, financial management, resource loaded planning, communication strategy, managing project change, quality assurance, project documentation, recruitment of deep technical skills).

• Testing

Ahead of the testing phase for the project, we will assess the quality of the testing plans proposed and, if required, we will extend the fieldwork to evaluate the quality of the testing documentation.

• Training

It is important that all stakeholders are appropriately trained. We will assess the effectiveness of the training planned and then delivered.

• Data Migration

Moving the data into the new environment is important to the overall integrity and quality of the data being used post go-live. We will assess the quality of the processes to extract, transform and load the data into the new environment.  This phase will also evaluate the adequacy of the data privacy controls in place as date is migrated.

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