This document describes the SID approach to large project execution and delivery.

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Company, Services & Solutions
Overview
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Table of Contents
Company Overview ..................................................................................................... 5
Services Overview........................................................................................................ 6
Enterprise Architecture .......................................................................................... 7
Process Optimization............................................................................................... 8
Application Development ...................................................................................... 9
System Integration ................................................................................................ 10
Solutions Overview .................................................................................................... 11
Enterprise Solutions .............................................................................................. 12
Industry Solutions .................................................................................................. 13
Technology Solutions ............................................................................................ 14
Project Delivery ........................................................................................................... 15
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5. 6/25/2008
Company Overview
Advanced Information Systems, Inc. (AIS) is a privately-held, Information Technology
professional services organization founded in 1987. AIS provide Consulting Services for IT
architecture development, business process optimization, application development and
systems integration for clients ranging from aggressive startups to Fortune 500 powerhouses.
AIS's client list has grown consistently over the past 20+ years. AIS maintains a broad
customer base while also providing specialized solutions for the travel services, insurance,
financial services and health care industries.
AIS’s technical expertise in distributed architectures, web services and enterprise software is
world-class, with consultants and software engineers that average over ten years experience.
Our technical skills are augmented by our experienced solutions delivery staff which use
proven development methodologies and disciplined project management to mitigate risk and
ensure quality results.
AIS has developed strong partnerships with industry leaders such as IBM and Microsoft. Our
consultants cultivate skills and capabilities in next-generation technology platforms including
Microsoft .NET and J2EE, and deliver both custom and packaged enterprise solutions for B2Bi,
EAI, BPM, Portals and others.
AIS’s success in providing exceptional business value for our clients has allowed us to develop
one of the most respected names in the industry. AIS has never lost sight of the importance of
our customer, and we are proud to state that our customers are quot;100% reference-able
Advanced Information Systems, Inc. (AIS) provides consulting services for enterprise
architectures, business process optimization, application development and systems
integration. However, our deep expertise in software engineering, web services and distributed
architectures allow us to do more than just complete projects. We successfully transform
organizations.
Our Value Proposition - our development methodology, our project management skills and
adherence to high- quality and low risk solutions.
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Services Overview
AIS has developed and refined a broad set of consulting services to meet the diverse needs of
our clients:
Enterprise Architecture
AIS advises clients on IT architecture issues including technology assessments and gap
analysis, ROI and strategic objectives, vendor and platform selection, and training and
organizational modifications.
Process Optimization
AIS helps your organization improve productivity and control costs through a range of
business process optimization services that include Business Process Automation, Business
Process Management, and Business Process Improvement.
Application Development
AIS provides the complete range of custom software development services encompassing
analysis, design, development, testing, integration and deployment.
System Integration
AIS provides a broad range of systems integration services that allow our clients to maximize
the value of their enterprise software packages and custom applications.
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Enterprise Architecture
In efforts to adapt to changing business conditions, many corporations experience significant
limitations with their current IT infrastructure. The underlying technologies, platforms and
systems are tightly coupled with application functionality. This typically results in frustrating
project delays as corporation attempt to alter inflexible and non-reusable applications and
systems. What is needed is an Enterprise Architecture that supports, not hinders, business
agility.
A Service-Oriented Architecture delivers business agility by exposing discrete business
functions through standards-based web service interfaces. This provides loose coupling
between business functions and the underlying technology infrastructure. The resulting
flexibility and reuse of business services can significantly revitalize the organization, and open
the door to new business models.
AIS is an experienced partner to guide you to a Service-Oriented Architecture, and offers a full
range of professional services including:
Enterprise Architecture Design and Assessment
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Effective Reuse of Services and Software Assets
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IT Infrastructure Assessment and Design
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Packaged Software Assessment and Selection
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Business and Technical Requirements Definition
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Integration and Deployment Planning
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Project Planning Methodologies and Processes
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Process Optimization
Business Process Management
Significant gains are often realized by modifying business processes to make them more
efficient, improve output quality, enhance service levels or lower operating costs. Of course,
not all processes should be redesigned. Defining the organization’s goals and objectives is an
important step before targeting specific processes and systems for redesign.
AIS not only assists organizations with identifying and prioritizing processes for redesign, but
performs the business process modeling, analysis and management to better understand and
control the desired outcomes. AIS helps you quantify the financial and productivity benefits
and develops a sound, results-oriented implementation plan. AIS can also implement the
recommended process changes and performs a post-implementation ROI assessment of our
work.
Business Process Management
Process Modeling Process Execution Process Optimization
Process Mapping BPM Server Performance Metrics
Best Practices
Best practices are processes refined through experience and iteration and generate the most
value for the least cost. Organizations can achieve best practices organically through multiple
trial and error iterations, or adopt best practices from outside sources based on their success
in similar settings.
AIS’s experience in business process redesign and process innovation has immersed us in best
practices from multiple industries and business models. AIS identifies best practices for your
most value-added activities so that you can improve your competitive position and achieve
long-term success.
Productivity Improvement
Technologies such as our BPM Server (a Web Services-based process execution engine) can
drastically improve productivity by providing real-time access to business information to
support decision-making processes. For example, rapid access to product demand information
can enable improvements in production scheduling, procurement, manufacturing, and
customer service.
AIS will analyze and quantify the productivity gains possible through the implementation of
new technologies. AIS will help you capitalize on these latent opportunities by implementing
the solution and addressing organizational change issue to make it a long-term success.
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Application Development
AIS provides full life cycle software development services. AIS can provide these services
separately or in combination, as needed by the client:
Requirements Gathering
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Analysis
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Design
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Development
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Testing
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Deployment
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AIS also provides comprehensive Systems Integration and Training to compliment our
application development services. AIS offers several delivery options for application
development to meet client needs:
Project Management - AIS takes full responsibility for the project and delivers turn-key
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solutions
Co-Developed Projects - AIS provides technical leadership and works closely with the
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client to jointly deliver the solution
Burst Consulting - AIS provides specific technical resources to supplement the
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development efforts of our clients
In addition to our technical expertise, our structured development methodologies and project
management expertise enable us to deliver on-time and on-budget for projects of any size.
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System Integration
AIS provides systems integration services to assist customers with the implementation of
enterprise software packages and custom applications. AIS has in-depth experience with a
wide variety of Enterprise Application Integration solutions and technologies, such as IBM's
WebSphere Business Integration software suite and Microsoft's MSMQ message-oriented
middleware solution. AIS also develops custom adaptors and integration solutions to fit our
client's needs.
AIS offers several delivery options for systems integration projects:
Project Management - AIS takes full responsibility for the project and delivers turn-key
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solutions using custom developed solutions or solutions developed in conjunction with
third-party vendors.
Co-Developed Projects - AIS provides technical leadership and works closely with the
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client and third-party vendors to jointly deliver a solution.
Burst Consulting - AIS provides specific technical resources to supplement client
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development efforts.
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Solutions Overview
AIS is dedicated to addressing our clients' core business challenges with solutions that provide
lasting benefits and ROI. From our years of experience, we've gained critical knowledge on the
challenges that are common to many businesses and industries.
AIS has developed Enterprise, Industry and Technology Solutions to meet these needs head
on. These solutions offer advantages such as rapid deployment, lower maintenance costs,
improved corporate agility, and instilment of best practices and processes.
Enterprise Solutions
Our delivery experience with enterprise customers has evolved into specialized solutions for
Business-to-Business Integration, Enterprise Application Integration with Web Services,
Legacy Transformation and others.
Industry Solutions
AIS has leveraged our deep industry experience to develop specific solutions for Insurance,
Health Care, Travel Services and Banking.
Technology Solutions
Our core capabilities in software engineering and distributed architectures have produced
specialized capabilities in web services, Java/J2EE, Microsoft .NET, and Service Oriented
Architectures.
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Enterprise Solutions
AIS’s Custom Enterprise Solutions are designed to overcome critical business challenges to
make your organization more successful and competitive. Our clients seek these solutions due
to several common business drivers:
Reduce Costs
Lower maintenance costs using more adaptable and flexible technologies. Automate and
streamline manual business processes while simultaneously preventing errors and delays.
Increase Revenue
Connect your workforce, customers, suppliers and business partners for more effective
collaboration in the sales and development of products and services.
Improve Agility
Reconfigure systems faster, become more agile, and provide real-time information for quicker
decision-making by integrating systems and eliminating data redundancies.
Improve Customer Satisfaction
Create a more satisfying customer experience and provide higher quality, more consistent
interactions with customers at every point in the relationship.
AIS has developed solutions to these challenges that can be rolled out faster and more cost
effectively than you might think. New technologies and standards have emerged that allow
companies to cost-effectively integrate systems both inside and outside the organization to
enable the Service Oriented Enterprise.
AIS is an expert at applying these technologies into creative solutions for enterprise
customers.
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Industry Solutions
Industry-specific solutions often evolve to address unique business requirements and a highly
competitive marketplace. AIS leverages our deep industry experience to deliver specific
solutions for Insurance, Health Care, Travel Services, ISVs and Banking.
AIS’s industry solutions can help you beat your competition and accomplish your strategic
goals. And although we have developed strong industry expertise, we are not necessarily
bound by industry tradition. AIS brings insights and best practices from client engagements
that span multiple industries, business models and organizational structures.
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Technology Solutions
A significant number of IT projects still fail. The reason is simple; many organizations still treat
application development like an art and not like an engineering discipline.
Experience
AIS developers are true Software Engineers. They architect, design, build and deploy complex
technology-based business solutions in a consistent, repeatable manner. They understand the
close interaction between corporate strategy, business processes and workforce components
in the solutions they create. And they have deep technical skills to deliver complex solutions at
any scale.
Delivery
AIS understands why IT projects succeed or fail. When we consult, we equip ourselves with
the tools and training to ensure success.
We start with talented consultants with applicable training and experience and have them
work in orchestrated teams. AIS specializes in next-generation technologies including web
services, Java/J2EE and .NET. These technologies deliver real, demonstrable business
advantages with the best possible return on investment, and enable the Service Oriented
Enterprise.
Finally, we ensure that this knowledge is passed along to our clients. We offer a full range of
educational services from formal classroom training, to mentoring and coaching, to informal
lunch and learn sessions around emerging technologies.
Solutions
You can leverage AIS's technical expertise to create new applications, transform legacy
systems, fill gaps in existing software, or re-architect IT systems for new levels of competitive
advantage.
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15. 6/25/2008
Project Delivery
AIS continues to perfect it’s approach to Project Delivery based on years of experience in
helping organizations improving their bottom lines. In order for AIS to recognize opportunities
that will increase revenue the Professionals at AIS must first understand your business,
policies and current procedures.
Exploration Workshop
A great way to get started is to engage AIS in an Exploration Workshop. A small group of AIS
professionals will visit your site(s) to interview key employees that you determine can provide
the necessary information we need to understand your business. AIS provides this initial
professional service for your organization free of charge. We believe in investing our own time
and efforts to insure there are indeed opportunities to bring increased profits and operational
savings to your bottom line.
After the Exploration Workshop is complete and we have had a chance to organize our
findings, we will meet with you and present the perceived opportunities that will benefit your
organization. A proposal with cost and timeline will be presented at this time to determine if
we move forward.
Discovery Phase
If the project/effort is a considerable one, a discovery phase will be proposed. This is a period
typically consist of anywhere between 2 and 12 weeks with 1 to 4 people dedicated to this
effort. During this phase the AIS Discovery team will usually be required to research the
proposed project(s) requirements and design in detail.
During this phase, the AIS Discovery Team professionals will meet repeatedly with your people
to draw out any and all needs of the task at hand and design a proposed solution that fulfills
these needs. We here at AIS pride ourselves in being able to deliver a solution that result in
far exceeding the basic expectations of our clients. This is due to our industry expertise,
extensive experience and our unfailing commitment to treat the needs of our clients as if they
were our own needs. We often propose enhancements to the original perceived solution that
impress our clients with our caring, personal touch attitude and desire to design the absolute
best solution to the problem.
At the end of this phase the following documents are delivered.
Project Plan with proposed timeline
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Requirements Document (if needed)
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Design Document
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Statement of work
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Contract
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The Requirements and Design document will layout in detail the required parameters of the
project to ensure success with no misconceptions on what the final delivery will be in look &
feel and functionality. Your absolute satisfaction is our constant goal. A solution that does
more than simply fulfill the requirements isn’t enough. We strive to constantly exceed
expectations in all that we deliver.
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Development Phase
After sign-off of all documents delivered in the Discovery Phase, the Development Phase
begins. Typically the AIS team members that have been involved in the project since the
Exploration Workshop are still very involved in the project. This helps to ensure the most
effective communication between the AIS Team and the Client.
AIS has a “client enabling” approach to partnering with our clients. We support the
introduction of client programmers as participants on the development team. This promotes
early and continuous “knowledge transfer” throughout all phases of the project. This approach
also nurtures a more seamless transition from the AIS team to the client team. Although client
participants are not in any way required; the invitation is extended to all our clients.
All source code, documentation, scripts, etc. are turned over to the client after final sign-off of
the project. The only exception to that rule is concerning our AIS products such as the BPM
Platform. Obviously source code to our software products is not released.
During the Development phase (as well as all other phases), when a
change/modification/enhancement is required or requested by the client concerning a project
in progress, a Change Control process is invoked. The Statement of Work (SOW) outlines the
procedures for this Change Control Process for requesting and approving all modifications that
are out of scope of the original Project specifications according to the SOW and System Design
Document.
A single point of contact for both AIS and the client is a requirement in our Project process.
However, these liaisons (usually the project Managers) are allowed to delegate and point put
people in contact with others that may have the desired information or service with the
approval of the corresponding point of contact.
Typically AIS is responsible for a project in it’s entirety and will have the responsibility of
notifying the client when obstacles or issues concerning the project arise. The client will then
have the responsibility of addressing the issue when it is within there control or organization.
Testing and Training Phase
The client is typically responsible for providing the manpower and knowledge for testing the
system both at the component level as well as the system level. The AIS developers will
perform limited unit and system testing of the solution. However the client will be responsible
to provide the actual complete testing with AIS team members assistance.
During the testing phase, test scripts are executed the team of testers with Test Result forms
being filled out by all testers. Errors or suspected errors are then logged into a testing
database and passed on to the development team to be addressed and responded too. New
“builds” of the software with bug fixes included in the new builds are scheduled and the test
scripts run again on the new version of the software. This continues until all priority bugs have
been resolved to the satisfaction of the client.
Running parallel to the testing phase is the training effort. AIS prefers to address training in a
“Train the Trainer” approach. An AIS trainer will offer training material to the client training
department and offer to train the trainer(s). Normally, the client training department will take
the AIS developed Training Documentation and Training and adapt it to their own internal
training program(s) and procedures. The client Training department will then train there fellow
co-workers on the new system with an eye towards coordinating the effort to complete around
the same time as the beginning of the Implementation Phase.
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Implementation Phase
AIS will assist the client in rolling out and configuring the software in the clients production
environment. AIS will then offer as much support and assistance the client desires when the
solution is ready to “go live”.
Typically this means AIS development team members are available and ready if immediate
modifications need to be made. Although it is not always available, the ability to roll back to
the previous system/platform is a desired approach to implementation of the new system. This
enables minimum impact to operations if problems occur.
A “ramp up” approach is also desired, although not always feasible. This entails bringing on
teams of client people on to the system gradually of a period of time rather than everyone all
at once. It may also involved a “ramp up” of the functionality of the system.
Project Approach Outline:
Project Approach
a. Exploration Workshop
i. Deliverable: Discovery Phase proposal
ii. Deliverable: Contract
b. Discovery Phase
i. Operational Analysis
ii. Process Analysis – operations and systems perspectives
iii. Deliverable: Project Proposal
1. Operational Recommendations
2. Systems Design
3. Product Recommendations
iv. Deliverable: Statement of Work (SOW)
v. Deliverable: Project Plan
vi. Deliverable: System Design Document
c. Development Phase
i. Operational Recommendations Adaptation
ii. Systems Development
iii. Product Acquisition
d. Testing & Training Phase
i. Unit Testing
ii. System Testing
iii. Training
iv. Deliverable: Training Document
v. Deliverable: System Documentation (Technical)
vi. Deliverable: System Documentation (Operational)
e. Implementation Phase
i. Go Live
ii. Monitoring
iii. Business Process Monitoring of Benchmarks
iv. Deliverable: Complete Project Documentation
v. Sign Off
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