Systems Integration Case Study         The Challenge   The customer, a medium sized collections agency, had purchased a new computer system two years earlier with the intention of migrating core business from their existing system onto the new platform.  The existing project between the customer and the IT supplier had major technological and political issues including but not limited to: A small IT supplier unable to fully resource the implementation. A customer who lacked confidence in system functionality and quality of the software delivered. No project methodology that had resulted in ‘scope creep’ and costs spiralling out of control. No issue prioritisation / resolution process. No risk mitigation strategy. The customer was reluctant to migrate to the new system until all the issues were resolved, even very minor ones, and withheld payment to the supplier.  The supplier was unwilling to resource the project without payment.  Stalemate had been reached.      Delivered   Consultants from Solutions 4 Finance (Projects) prepared a project brief which outlined the background and re-enforced the objectives of the project. It also recommended that a project board should be set up to manage the project and provide direction.   As a result of the direct actions of our consultants:   The structure of the project was defined and agreed. A change control process was set up.  Templates for business requirements were provided and a process for raising, approving and implementing changes was agreed between all parties. A testing strategy was developed to give the customer a way of measuring the testing and the results in order to provide some level of confidence. A fault raising system was agreed where faults were raised and given a priority in order to assess the impact on the overall project. Risk and issue workshops were facilitated allowing the client to become more self-sufficient. A different project approach was recommended and accepted. A communication strategy was developed.    Benefits   The project was completely turned around, and a new enthusiasm became apparent with the result that the customer and supplier began to work together as a team. New business went live 5 months after the project brief was agreed and the customer was happy for the migration of the existing business onto the new platform to take place after a short stabilisation period.