This project was an Information Technology Consulting Services contract for RTD that was conducted in less than 45 days.

The RTD IT organization was overwhelmed by the large number of seemingly disparate projects, where the projects outnumbered the IT staff by a factor of over 10-to-one. Corybant’s Needs Assessment Process was used to uncover 55 Legacy Systems, identify and prioritize 102 information technology efforts between 16 departments, and to evaluate the current IT staffing and staffing requirements as they related to the projects that were identified.

Corybant’s Needs Assessment and Project Management Methodology was used to identify the base elements of the projects, to identify components that may be target for outsourcing, and to provide an order of execution that would enable the staff to execute the projects in sequence and would maximize the leverage for each effort.

At the time RTD was in the process of implementing the Light Rail System along with 10 major IT initiatives that included: TMA Facilities Maintenance, Kiosk Development, Internet/Intranet Development, Employee Information System, Photo ID System, Pilot Imaging Application, IT Staff Training and Knowledge Transfer, Computer Desktop Upgrade, District-wide Security and Timekeeping system, and an Interactive Voice Response System at TIC.

Corybant delivered the RTD IT Consolidation Plan that included a roadmap for consolidating IT efforts and a conservative staffing estimate to achieve RTD’s goals including completion of existing projects and strategic initiatives by supporting the existing staff members and contract resources. The project was completed in less than 45 days.

*Project reference: RTD Information Technology Consulting Services

*Background – Business Scenario:

The RTD IT Consulting Project included identifying and prioritizing approximately 102 information technology efforts between 16 departments who were under RTD’s General Manager and Assistant General Manager. At the time RTD was in the process of implementing the Light Rail System along with 10 major IT initiatives that included: TMA Facilities Maintenance, Kiosk Development, Internet/Intranet Development, Employee Information System, Photo ID System, Pilot Imaging Application, IT Staff Training and Knowledge Transfer, Computer Desktop Upgrade, District-wide Security and Timekeeping system, and an Interactive Voice Response System at TIC. The assessment uncovered 55 Legacy Systems and evaluated the current IT staffing and staffing requirements as they related to the projects that were identified. Relevance to project goals:

The RTD IT organization was overwhelmed by the large number of seemingly disparate projects, where the projects outnumbered the IT staff by a factor of over 10-to-one. The Needs Assessment and Project management methodology was used to identify the base elements of the projects, to identify components that may be target for outsourcing, and to provide an order of execution that would enable the staff to execute the projects in sequence and would maximize the leverage for each effort.

Project objectives - Services provided:

• Draft a Summary Report that documents objectives, development status, staff assignments, outstanding issues and project dependencies and interrelationships of each project identified in “Appendix A” (Project Outline) of the RTD request for Proposal dated May 18, 1998, (Reference Task # 1).
• Perform a Cost/Benefit Analysis of each individual project and to develop a mechanism for prioritizing those projects, (Reference Task #2).
• Characterize the internal and external support requirements and to develop a process model for completion and deployment of each project and for the migration of the resulting systems to newer technologies, (Reference Task # 3).

Project deliverables – Value derived from the project:

Task #1: Information Technology Project Summary

It was RTD’s intent to analyze its current IT work programs to determine each elements status and determine any outstanding needs for completion. For all outstanding needs, RTD desired an assessment of its viability for completion through private contractors, a time frame for completion and an estimated cost of completion. Corybant met with RTD Information Technology staff to analyze and summarize all current information Technology projects, current status, and to assess the need for completion. Analysis included a deliverable document that included a summary of all outstanding and in-progress projects with projected time frames for completion.
The summary included a current status and an assessment on need for completion. Projects included all system maintenance and development, data center, microcomputer and network/telecommunications projects. An outline of projects (ranging from light rail to Kiosk and Interactive Voice Response for schedule updates) is available and RTD has given Corybant written permission to show the reports to prospective clients.

Task #2: Information Technology Project Summary

This task focused on current IT development projects. We were contracted to divide all identified projects into development elements, create a cost benefit analysis for each project and to develop a mechanism for prioritizing projects. We used an analysis method based on the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) process to accomplish this task. The report for this task included a set of recommendations for the most cost effective course to follow as well as a description of the process that we used to arrive at these conclusions.

Task #3: Information Technology Project Summary

Task #3 of the RTD Information Technology Consulting Services was focused on IT Services. We were contracted to “determine ongoing internal and external ongoing (sic) support requirements to include technical support services, human resources, software and hardware maintenance, and other requirements and a plan of growth to maintain consistency with technology enhancement”. To accomplish this task we used an analysis method based on a “Customer-Provider” model of the organization. Using this model, we developed a process for increasing the incremental agility of the service organization. Our process begins with identification of the nature and scope of current activities. The process then identifies the number and capabilities of the required resources to accomplish the objectives of the organization. Job assignments and qualifications are described for each of the required resources. The report outlines a summary of the analysis, an overview of the proposed processes for managing technology changes and recommendation for internal and external support requirements.

Corybant has received authorization from RTD to share these reports with customers and prospective customers.