This article was written for BDO’s business briefing for Autumn 2003. The article is reflective of a common theme that we find – businesses often resort to writing software as a first resort rather than a last resort, and end up working even harder to make their business work. It’s not that I’m against homegrown software, but I do see it cause enough grief that I suggest clients have a Bex and a good lie down before developing their own software. The article is also published at http://michealaxelsen.com/blog/publications/articles/when-the-systems-tail-wags-the-organisations-dog/. Enjoy.
There is growing pressure in business today to deliver information where it is needed, when it is needed and more quickly than was previously thought possible.In response to this pressure, our clients often develop their own systems to deal with immediate issues by using spreadsheets, databases, and so on. These shortterm fixes eventually grow to become long-term headaches.
Instead of helping your business, these solutions that have ad hoc design, no structured support and that do not work with the existing “off-the-shelf†software become internal bottlenecks that foster inefficiency.In one extreme example, an organisation had put in place so many databases that they had more than two databases for each staff member.
When a key staff member could not identify how the systems worked, or even what the systems were for (they presumably had some purpose), no-one knew what that was!In this example, the Business Reporting Solutions (BRS) team identified the databases that were necessary, those that were unnecessary, and those that should be amalgamated. The BRS team then placed these applications on an intranet where they were much easier to use and manage, and could be backed up and be kept up-to-date.
As our clients’ businesses grow, the information systems that served you well in the past will invariably no longer meet their needs as they continue to grow. BDO Kendalls’ service line, Business Reporting Solutions, assesses clients’ existing in-house information systems, determines the systems that need alteration, and the team then designs and develops new, integrated solutions using appropriate technology to address the business need. Our clients benefit from business-focussed, properly documented information systems that require minimal future maintenance.