Solution Implementation

Whether you are deploying our FEI or NPD solution, IFT’s consultants will assist you in deploying the solution rapidly and reliably. Our implementation service combines our proven implementation methodology with consulting best-practice and technical expertise to tackle your most complex innovation management challenges and deliver outstanding results.

Our Implementation Approach

Our proven approach has been fine tuned over 20 years of implementation experience and is designed to implement our solution and the embedded Best Practices quickly, reliably and cost effectively. We see each business process as incremental releases, each configured to meet your specific needs while taking advantage of our process best practices. Each release delivers a set of configured functionality to a specified user group. A typical release sequence would be 1) Stage-Gate governance, 2) Portfolio Management, 3) Idea Management, 4) Project Management etc.

This approach has several advantages over a traditional ‘big bang’ approach to systems implementation:

Delivers value much earlier through quicker deployment of the software.

Enables people to learn and adopt new processes more easily, spreading out change over time.

Builds momentum for ongoing process improvements, as users and executives experience the value of the system and provide feedback for the next deployment step.

Keeps tight control of implementation cost and schedule.

Each release is normally deployed incrementally, building on previously deployed functionality. Each release typically takes between 4 and 12 weeks to deploy, depending on scope and complexity

Just as with stage-gate, we conduct a gate review with the client after each release, to confirm that objectives have been met, identify any actions to ensure benefits delivery, and obtain approval to start implementing additional releases, as required.

Release Work Packages

Each release consists of a series of standard IFT service work packages. Each work package consists of workshops with client staff and IFT consultants, and with IFT consultants then completing specific deliverables for the client’s review. Release work packages include:

Standard implementation steps for Stage-Gate process

Module Process Design. Confirm actions, workflows, calculations, information, reporting and security requirements of the process being deployed.

Solution Configuration & Validation. Configure software to support the business process design. Validate the configuration with client reviewers.

Data Conversion and Launch. Convert data from legacy systems. Confirm cutover plan from legacy systems to IFT and launch IFT live system.

Training Preparation & Delivery. Prepare training materials and conduct training events with identified users of the business processes. Training events may include webinars and class room training and is conducted on a separate training database.