Assessment Methodology

Process Overview

Bridge Consultants use a consultative Enterprise Assessment and project scoping methodology to investigate and document client business problems, and develop recommendations and Statements of Work (SOW) for solution projects.

We recognize that your goal is to deliver against the service levels required by your business, and we can help you better prepare by helping you identify your areas of operational risk.

Bridge Consulting Assessment Services are modular services that provide you with a range of choices to address issues such as strategic business to IT alignment, operational process adequacy, technology tools capabilities and adoption, network security, and environmental robustness.

Each assessment services starts with gaining an understanding of your business requirements and how they are reflected in your service-level objectives. Face-to-face interviews and detailed data-gathering exercises are conducted. The service then identifies critical readiness gaps and offers specific recommendations to help you balance the key elements of your operation, including processes and people, technology infrastructure, and your vendor support relationships if necessary.

Bridge Consultants act as mentors, moderators, and facilitators as they work with key client participants. Each Assessment Service follows a well-proven four-phase process for capturing, analyzing, documenting recommendations, developing SOW’s and reporting findings.

Four Stage Assessment Methodology

  • Stage 1. Investigation, Planning and Preparation. This phase starts with initial customer contact. Our consultant will explain the process and deliverables to you. A “Pre-Assessment Preparation Packet” will be provided to gather baseline information about the environment, business challenges, assessment goals & objectives, and customer requirements. Then a requirements review meeting is conducted to review gathered data and requirements and identify customer stakeholders, timeframes, and To-Be desired state. With your help, appropriate interviewees are identified and overall logistics agreed upon for the onsite portion of the assessment.
  • Stage 2. Onsite interviews and data gathering. Depending on the depth of the assessment to be performed, our assessment team will visit your site or make contact by telephone. Along with your key staff we will conduct the necessary interviews and undertake other data gathering activities to capture your As-Is state. Care is given to respect client staffs daily operational responsibilities and schedules.
  • Stage 3. Analysis, report writing and SOW. Our assessment team will analyze the information that is collected; apply appropriate examination, study, and industry knowledge to the circumstances. Then recommendations are documented, a statement of work (SOW) is created to outline a project solution and pricing, and a written report and/or a presentation of key findings is provided highlighting the identified strengths and weaknesses as well as outlining potential risks to the quality and reliability of service delivery. Additional focus area specifics are provided as dictated by the type of assessment.
  • Stage 4. Assessment Presentation. A management presentation is arranged at your site to share the findings, recommendations and SOW. At the completion of the engagement, you will receive a copy of the presentation and/or documented report and SOW, depending on the service being proposed.

Assessment Benefits

  • Assist you with improving your understanding of your organization's strengths, weaknesses, and risks in terms of its ability to deliver reliable service
  • Provide a written report identifying and prioritizing areas where your IT infrastructure can be strengthened to improve service quality
  • Assist you with increasing your organization's agility to manage and react to business change
  • Provide a reference point for subsequent service improvement initiatives
  • Help you align your IT environment with your business needs by leveraging Bridge Consulting experience and expertise
  • Enable you to select from modular, scalable assessments to help address your needs

Assessment Deliverables

The following set of deliverables will be provided as a result of assessment activities:

  • Assessment Brief - Provides an overview of the assessment, goals and objectives
  • Assessment Business Case - Provides the viability and justification of a new or remediation project to include cost/benefits analysis, risk, and return on investment. This can be used by clients to secure budget or other capital resources.
  • Assessment Recommendations – This is a list of recommendations specific to the target technology, process, or business area.
  • Project Statement of Work (SOW) - Provides a summary of project objectives, implementation plans to include high-level requirements, activities, schedule, resources, tools, acceptance criteria, and pricing.

Customer Responsibilities

Bridge Consulting clients have the following responsibilities:

  • Identify the systems, applications, or IT services to be covered by the engagement
  • Provide the information requested by Bridge consultants prior to service delivery
  • Ensure availability of appropriate staff for interviews, presentations, and other service activities as requested.
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