Providing independent business systems advice to financial services
Investment Bank
Background
The company, established in 1980,
specialises in arranging and leading large management buy-outs and buy-ins
both in the UK and continental Europe.
Existing computer systems included a 22
user network running under the Novell network operating system and
supporting predominately Microsoft Office applications, internal and
external e-mail, Internet access and access to on-line databases and
information services. In addition the network also supported Blueprint
fund management software, Sun Account accounting software and Tracker CRM
software. The company were having many problems
with the installed software, network infrastructure and external
communication and were unsure whether the fault was with themselves
through lack of training and/or IT appreciation or whether the original
supplier and subsequent support company were not providing the level of
service required.
Review existing systems and make recommendations on internal and external IT support.
Scale
1 UK locations, 26 staff, £160m net assets.
Scope of requirements
Fund management, accounting, contact management, office systems.
Internal systems support - there was no internal person with the necessary skills or training acting as systems administrator.
Inadequately installed infrastructure - the original supplier of the infrastructure had not provided a properly installed or stable network or appropriate systems configuration documentation.
Inappropriate use of external support provider - the external support organisation were undertaking basic network administration tasks and application software configuration which they were not originally contracted to perform.
Lack of IT strategy and direction - ad-hoc hardware and application software was being implemented by many managers and staff without any thought as to the wider support implications.
Review recommended that a short-term contractor be employed to reconfigure the network, provide appropriate systems documentation and train the internal nominated systems administrator and deputy. In addition it was recommended that a systems steering group be established to be responsible for determining IT policy and developing a strategy and action plan for the enhancement of IT in the Company.
Microguide Corporate Computer Consultants, 82 Shortlands Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT2 6HE
Tel: 020 8549 7152
Fax: 020 8549 8112
Email:enquiry@microguide.co.uk
ã2008 Microguide. All rights reserved.
