- Processes pertaining to managing the application are inconsistent and do not drive excellence.
- There is a lack of interdepartmental collaboration between different teams pertaining to the application.
- There are no formalized roles and responsibilities for governance and support around enterprise applications.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- Scale the Center of Excellence (CoE) based on business needs. There is flexibility in how extensively the CoE methodology is applied and rigidity in how consistently it should be used.
- The CoE is a refinery. It takes raw inputs from the business and produces an enhanced product, removing waste and isolating it from re-entering day-to-day operations.
- Excellence is about people as much as it is about process. Documented best practices should include competencies, key resources, and identified champions to advocate the CoE practice.
Impact and Result
- Formalize roles and responsibilities for all application initiatives.
- Develop a standard process of governance and oversight surrounding the application.
- Develop a comprehensive support network that consists of IT, the business, and external stakeholders to address issues and problem areas surrounding the application.
Maximize the Benefits from Enterprise Applications with a Center of Excellence Research & Tools
Start here – read the Executive Brief
Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should establish a Center of Excellence for your enterprise application, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the four ways we can support you in completing this project.Besides the small introduction, subscribers and consulting clients within this management domain have access to:
- Maximize the Benefits from Enterprise Applications with a Center of Excellence – Phases 1-3
1. Create a vision for the CoE
Understand the importance of developing an enterprise application CoE, define its scope, and identify key stakeholders.
- Maximize the Benefits from Enterprise Applications with a Center of Excellence – Phase 1: Create a Vision for the Center of Excellence
- Enterprise Application Center of Excellence Project Charter
2. Design the CoE future state
Gather high-level requirements to determine the ideal future state.
- Maximize the Benefits from Enterprise Applications with a Center of Excellence – Phase 2: Design the Center of Excellence Future State
- Center of Excellence Refinery Model Template
3. Develop a CoE roadmap
Assess the required capabilities to reach the ideal state CoE.
- Maximize the Benefits from Enterprise Applications with a Center of Excellence – Phase 3: Develop a Center of Excellence Roadmap
- Center of Excellence Exceptions Report
- Track and Measure Benefits Tool
- Enterprise Application Center of Excellence Stakeholder Presentation Template
Workshop: Maximize the Benefits from Enterprise Applications with a Center of Excellence
Workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
1 Create a Vision for the CoE
The Purpose
Understand the importance of developing a CoE for enterprise applications.
Determine how to best align the CoE mandate with business objectives.
Complete a CoE project charter to gain buy-in, build a project team, and track project success.
Key Benefits Achieved
Key stakeholders identified.
Project team created with defined roles and responsibilities.
Project charter finalized to gain buy-in.
Activities
1.1 Evaluate business needs and priorities.
1.2 Identify key stakeholders and the project team.
1.3 Align CoE with business priorities.
1.4 Map current state CoE.
Outputs
Project vision
Defined roles and responsibilities
Strategic alignment of CoE and the business
CoE current state schematic
2 Design the CoE Future State
The Purpose
Gain a thorough understanding of pains related to the lack of application governance.
Identify and recycle existing CoE practices.
Visualize the CoE enhancement process.
Visualize your ideal state CoE.
Key Benefits Achieved
Requirements to strengthen the case for the enterprise application CoE.
CoE value-add refinery.
Future potential of the CoE.
Activities
2.1 Gather requirements.
2.2 Map the CoE enhancement process.
2.3 Sketch future state CoE.
Outputs
Classified pains, opportunities, and existing practices
CoE refinery model
Future state CoE sketch
3 Develop a CoE Roadmap
The Purpose
Assess required capabilities and resourcing.
List and prioritize CoE initiatives.
Track and monitor CoE performance.
Key Benefits Achieved
Next steps for the enterprise application CoE.
CoE resourcing plan.
CoE benefits realization tracking.
Activities
3.1 Build CoE capabilities.
3.2 Identify risks and mitigation efforts.
3.3 Prioritize and track CoE initiatives.
3.4 Finalize stakeholder presentation.
Outputs
CoE potential capabilities
Risk management plan
CoE initiatives roadmap
CoE stakeholder presentation