The Cloud Implementation Reality Check

How ready are you to make the move to Cloud technology?

Question Title

* Do you have a business case supporting a move to the Cloud?

We haven’t developed a business case.

We have developed a business case which outlines an estimated cost/benefits analysis and is inclusive of high level ROI estimates.

We have completed a comprehensive business case that has been vetted and committed to across all business units in the organization and which includes a detailed cost/benefits analysis across technology, organization, vendor, real estate, licensing, audit and security needs, fiscal year timings of ROI estimates and capital versus run rate changes.

Question Title

* Do you have Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that measure the organizational effectiveness and impact of the new Cloud system?

We haven’t developed any KPIs.

We have developed some KPIs to measure our performance.

We have fully developed a balanced scorecard inclusive of KPIs to measure defined items such as cost reductions, process cycle-time improvement and defined service level agreements which would be used to measure the effectiveness of a move to the Cloud.

Question Title

* Have you assessed your current operations for a move to the Cloud?

We haven’t evaluated our current state for a move to the Cloud.

We have begun some documentation of our current state business process inventories, but have done little else in terms of preparing operationally.

We have developed current state business process inventories, harmonized policies and procedures, documented current systems inventory and have a plan for working with external vendors/entities impacted by the Cloud implementation.

Question Title

* Do you have a data architecture strategy?

No, because while our data elements might be renamed, they are essentially the same.

We are aware that data fields will change for the systems being implemented and are working to understand how best to convert.

We have a comprehensive understanding of the impacts to data, where the single source of truth will reside in the future, the implications to pair systems, the conversion needs, the required level of data quality, as well as processes related to security, data archiving and data retention.

Question Title

* Is your organization effectively managing the rapid pace of Cloud implementation?

We have leadership consensus on the initiative, but have provided limited communication to the organization on the coming changes.

We have a communication and training plan for the move to Cloud.

We have developed a comprehensive change management strategy which addresses people, process and technology readiness for Cloud implementation and includes organizational communications, stakeholder management, training, organizational design, physical workspace, rewards and recognition, and career development.

Question Title

* Do you have the staff resources that you need for Cloud implementation?

Current team leads will provide guidance to the integration partner on an as-needed basis.

We have a dedicated project manager who will coordinate the help of others within the organization in concert with the integration partner.

We have developed a project staffing requirements plan which quantifies the number of resources that will be required across all phases of the Cloud deployment, including the skills and subject matter expertise required for each role and which also takes into account the need for backfilling resources for current jobs.

Question Title

* Do you have a Project Management Office (PMO) for the Cloud implementation (beyond what your implementation partner is providing)?

The PMO will be led by the integration partner and will report into our organization’s project sponsor.

We have created a PMO that will manage and coordinate how work is accomplished in concert with the integration partner.

We have created a plan to implement the project management structure and resources required to set up a PMO that will effectively manage the move to the Cloud, including the establishment of a tiered governance structure, coordination across the organization for future state design, gap analysis, end-to-end testing, UAT, deployment, managing vendor relationships, monitoring progress towards achieving the business case and facilitating change.

Question Title

* Do you have an updated service delivery strategy and model?

We will operate in a similar way to how we operate today.

We have done some preliminary designs based on our current system support structure and will evolve based on what is learned in the implementation.

We have developed a strategy for supporting the Cloud system in production with the new service delivery requirements, application and data support, system and process governance including business case review, change control, tenant and release management, training, requirements for staffing the support structure, security, resiliency and billing audits.