Planning & Business Analysis

We have been doing IT Planning for several clients, from developing Feasibility Study Reports (FSRs) to helping the State pilot its current Project Approval Lifecycle (PAL) planning guidelines. Our ITPM focuses on how a new system will improve business processes and remain viable for the long-term. To that end, Highlands Consulting provides the full range of IT planning and analysis services:

• Analyze both business and technical needs, short- and long-term
• Distill needs into high-level business requirements
• Research and analyze solution alternatives, with no product bias
• Recommend tailored approach, such as phased, iterative, waterfall, and/or agile
• Develop detailed budget estimates and what-if scenarios
• Help justify and secure funding for the desired solution

Successful delivery of these services has helped our State clients achieve approval of PAL Stages 1 and 2, which includes business case development, business analysis, alternatives analysis, and financial analysis. We are usually retained for PAL Stages 3 an 4, which includes detailed requirements development, solicitation development, procurement strategy, and solution selection, as described

Project Management

Using IT project management services means outsourcing your project management needs to a professional IT company. They'll manage everything you need them to, even the entire project. At AspireHubs, we use a project management methodology that is tailored to your project needs. Moreover, we manage projects of any scope and scale, based on business requirements. Projects take time to complete and experience to make sure they are done right. However, companies don’t always have the resources to keep projects on track. Thus, hiring a team of experts at a lower cost can take the burden off your shoulders and let you focus on your business. The following are just some of the benefits of hiring an IT project management services company like us:

• Achieve project goals and objectives on time, within scope and budget. Our team will work with you to create a timeline that meets your needs. Obstacles are not a problem because we know how to resolve issues timely and efficiently.
• Manage priorities. Sometimes projects take a back seat to other priorities in the company. When you partner with us, you can focus your energy on your main goals, and we can manage the rest.
• Scale quickly. Projects may require additional resources that you just don’t have. We have the resources to quickly scale as needed.
• Establish expectations to create a framework for the project. Furthermore, you can regularly check in to make sure the project is on track.
• Provide communication between IT staff and operations about how the business uses technology.
• Get updates on the project status and identify what needs to be closely watched.
• Generate key metrics and performance indicators to make sure each project is going as planned

Procurement Services

With the right support, you can have peace of mind about the procurement process. Public sector procurement can seem daunting and complex, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Our public sector procurement specialists bring order and a sense of clarity to the process. With a thorough understanding of Project Approval Lifecycle and the various stages, specially Stage 2 & Stage 3, our consultants help in drafting the complete solicitation process.

AspireHubs will coach you through the procurement process from beginning to end, helping you ask the right questions and guiding you through all the necessary steps. A major element of success for your project will be defining your requirements and determining how much everything will cost. Doing this groundwork incorrectly can lead to a mess of changes, ruined timelines, issues you’ll need to report back — and cost overruns. We can help you anticipate the kinds of unexpected expenses that can pop up during a project. Most RFPs have very specific requirements that public sector organizations must meet. Your own organization has its own particular specifications as well. We know how to find solutions and approaches that work for your needs. We're experienced at helping you figure out how to get things scheduled and executed throughout the entire procurement process. We can even help with vendor selection.

Business Process Reengineering Services

Our Business process re-engineering services (BPR) is a business management strategy that focuses on the analysis and design of workflows and business processes within an organization. The intent of our business process re-engineering services is to help organizations think outside the box on how they do their work in order to improve customer service; and cut operational costs by streamlining redundancies in employees’ work processes, allowing them to work more efficiently and effectively.

Aspire Hub’s business process re-engineering help organizations rethink and redesign the way work is done by assisting in the selection and implementation of enterprise wide computer systems to improve business processes and operations to help employees work smarter and more efficiently through improved technology. As part of our BPR services, we deliver following solutions:

• Streamline Operations – cut-out redundant tasks that slow things down; employees find it easier and quicker to complete tasks without going through extensive processes and multiple systems
• Increase Efficiency – increasing efficiency comes with streamlined operations; using less processes and changing processes through less red tape allowing employees more time to perform meaningful work and focus on assisting your customer base quicker.
• Provide Better Results – better organization through focused goals and the latest technology improves all areas of your business.
• Show a Return on Investment – lower operating costs as a result of digital process re-engineering, as well as streamlining processes and procedures through technology; and better organization and goals creates more production, employee satisfaction, and improved customer service

Organizational Change Management

OCM is all about vision. Change is inevitable, but when it’s driven by major events or the introduction of a new enterprise system, change can be fast-moving and disruptive. AspireHubs understands that organizational transformation is a process, not an event. Helping organizations plan for that process starts with taking advantage of the urgency of change by defining goals and benefits to be attained, instead of just reacting. We then design an OCM program aimed at accomplishing those goals. Managing change starts by looking squarely at the organization as it is now.

AspireHubs runs business process analysis workshops to understand the organization’s mission and operations, and then document and diagram business processes to show how humans and technology interact to accomplish objectives. We look at how the work needs to change to adapt to a new system, or to rethink and streamline processes. Finally we create a gap analysis and recommendations, revealing what it will take to achieve the goals and reap benefits from change, instead of letting change disrupt productivity and stress the organization. All this work provides an indispensable body of information for planning transitions such as system cutover and go-live. Our consultants have the experience and maturity that is essential for building trusted relationships and a vision for successful change.