Frank Cooper Being Open to Innovation in a Small Company.

Frank Cooper

Being Open to Innovation in a Small Company

Cooper Software Background

• Founded in 2005, Opened a Swedish Office earlier this month.

• Privately owned; 20 Staff.

• Systems integration specialists (Microsoft and Oracle Experts).

• Niche: Professional technical services\solutions to the IFS ERP Market (grown rapidly to be largest independent IFS consultancy in the UK).

• Award Winners; Best Young Company at Scottish Enterprise Business Excellence Awards.

• ISO 9001:2008 Accredited.

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Delivering our Services

• 90% of our revenue comes from Project Engagements.

• Framework approach based on best practice, is essential.

• Software re-use where ever possible.• Part of our project delivery methodology is to

assess if the eventual solution has a potential wider use.

• Recognised the wider opportunity with MiView.• Limited experience developing a product or

taking one to market.

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MiViewTM

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MiViewTM

MiView Delivery Process

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• Repeatable, structured approach to delivery.• Focussed on solving immediate business

problems while exploring wider business issues.

What experience did we need?

• We were embarking on taking a packaged offering to market – this was new.

• It presented many new challenges, which we had to prioritise and overcome.• Licensing Model• Sales Campaign• Market Research• Usability Testing• System Testing• Setting up a Support Infrastructure• …

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How did Interface assist us?

• Introduced via Scottish Enterprise, pilot initiative called the “Commercial Breakthrough Service”.

• Interface, understood our MiView challenges & introduced us to UWS(Specialists in Software Reporting Applications)

• We decided to focus the assistance from UWS:• Usability – is MiView user friendly and easy\ intuitive to

use?• Testing – is MiView robust?

• Interface coordinated the initial sessions and provided the access and support required to establish the feasibility project with UWS.

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What did the study achieve?

• 20 days of University time over 9 months.• The work that was carried out by UWS was

valuable:• Usability

•Established that MiView was sufficiently innovative and there is a market?

•Evaluated the existing feature set, identifying some gaps

• Is the Application Robust Enough?•Focussed testing of the application to evaluate the different

Automated Software testing tools that are available •A recommendation of the tools and process that we could use to

automate as much testing as possible.

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A longer term relationship

• We benefited and enjoyed the experience that UWS provided. (Thomas and Robert)

• We looked at ways in which we could extend this relationship.

• We also became aware of the KTP programme• Recruitment of a complex role, to move

MiView from a concept to a product:• Business Analyst; Market Researcher and Product

Manager• Tap into the UWS experience and knowledge base to

support how MiView evolves going forward.

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What now for MiView?

• MiView is a watershed for Cooper Software:• Many bespoke sales of the system. • We have delivered our first complete packaged

offering – our first true productised engagement. (this is the future)

• Agreement to embed the MiView reporting engine as the reporting tool for a Global software provider. (as is this)

• With a web based reporting tool that can be used by any business, of any size across any technology – the potential is incredible.

• In these early stages, we need to take care that we do not lose focus and we prioritise.

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Being Open to Innovation in a small company?

• We continue to Innovate, its what we do.• We already have other potential products and

offerings in the pipeline.• Being Innovative is not enough on its own:

• Professional: Quality, Processes, Experience, Planning• Ambition, Drive – Lots of Hard Work

• Leveraging the right balance of expertise and support from the resources available:• Plug the gaps• Continue do what you are good at• Be prepared to put the effort in to make it work

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End of Presentation

Why we engaged with UWS

• UWS possessed expertise in automation tools that was lacking in-house

• Little to no business justification for performing the feasibility study in house due to lack of skills and lack of knowledge with available automation tools

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Benefits we received

• An better understanding of how our product was placed to allow test automation• Implementation of certain developed features actually

prohibited or hindered automation.

• An clear indication of what tools would not be suitable• A massive benefit due to limited resources in house,

we could now understand the tools that would be no benefit and not waste time

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Outcomes from feasibility study

• Automation tools now considered and detailed in the Test Strategy

• We will be looking to further investigate UWS’ suggested automation tool when setting up our new testing environment.

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Building a relationship with UWS

• Investigated the KTP Programme• We were looking for a very specific individual

to support us on MiView:• Part Business Analyst• Part Marketeer

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Vision and Scope

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• Specification; can be used

internally or by other external

resources if required.

• Business Case.

• Infrastructure and Systems

Assessment

• Targeted ROI.

• Document of Scope, Priorities and

Stakeholders.

• Summary Requirements &

Quotation.

Project Management (PRINCE2)

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Deployment(CS Release

Process)

Additional Increments Planned

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Project Management

- Documented Deliverables

-Project Sign-off*-Project Evaluation-Lessons Learned

Key:

Software Deliverables

Project PlanRAG Report(Risks & Issues)

Progress Report (Weekly)

Delivery Pipeline

- User Guide- Technical Support Docs.

- Delivered System*

- Test Plan*- Test Scripts*- Test Summary*- Deployment Plan

- Tested System*- Automated Unit Tests

- Functional Requirements*- Non-Functional Requirements- Design Model* - System Design - Design Reviews

- Dynamic Design Model

Envision-ment

(* mandatory)

- PID*- Vision and Scope*- Delivery Plan*- Solution Architecture- Test Strategy

- Feasibility Prototype

Iteration Complete

AdditionalIterationsPlanned

Iteration Complete

FinalIncrament

Design(Exploration)

Design(Exploration)

Support and Aftercare

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• Remote Connectivity (leased lines)

• Helpdesk & Service Management

• Oracle Servers & Performance Management

• Build and Commit Servers

• Automated Test Stations & Supporting

Methodology

• ESCROW Agreements

• Web Server Hosting

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MiViewTM

MiViewTM delivers:• A coherent web-based reporting

environment for all data sources and all users.

• Personalised reports, visual dashboards and plasma displays.

• Easy monitoring and tracking of Key Performance Indicators.

• Reports that are refreshed and delivered on a scheduled basis.

• Integration of disconnected IT Systems

into a single reporting platform.• Automated and trigger based report

delivery including mobile.