Organizing the Departments

The first step is to recruit managers for each of the system concepts and project management departments from internal or external sources. The system concepts manager must have performed conceptual design work for large, implemented systems. The project management manager must have led development teams to successful conclusion of such system projects. Both must be technically up to date and have the communication ability necessary to assist as needed in issue resolution between users and ISDs. The two managers act as consultants to their staff members for complex matters that arise during assignments. This counsel gives system architects and project managers additional support in their knowledge and skill areas, realizing that ISD department managers do not carry accountability for success or failure of their staff transformational project endeavors.

The second step is to fill the system architect and project manager positions, either from internal or external sources. Primary considerations are the ability to create workable solutions from a diverse set of facts and circumstances for system architects and the ability to manage a group of technical specialists toward successful project conclusion for project managers.