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Information and communications technology

Background

Broadleaf has extensive experience of both public and private sector ICT projects and operations. Risk management first took hold as a discipline in the sectors facing the greatest challenges, with Defence and ICT being at the forefront. Several of our senior personnel trace their careers back to information and communications technology or have spent a significant amount of time dealing with risk management in this sector.

Broadleaf has provided risk management support for ICT projects in Australia and New Zealand. We also provide specialist services in ICT procurements through tender risk adjustment and liability assessment, as well as market testing the procurement of support services and other projects associated with ICT.

Tender risk adjustment enables the comparison of alternative bids with different prima facie technical and commercial offerings and headline prices. This allows a rational comparison of low cost offers with limited capability against higher cost bids with high grade expertise, where both may appear acceptable but implementation is expected to play out differently depending on the one that is selected. This is illustrated in Figure 1, where the quotation with the lower price has a good chance of being more expensive than the higher price quote will event be even if its costs rise.

Figure 1: Tender cost risk adjustment

Liability assessment supports procurement teams who are negotiating acceptable liability conditions with suppliers. It overcomes the historical insistence on unlimited contractor liability, which generally favours large suppliers and limits the ability of smaller firms to compete in the market. A risk-based assessment of liability reduces the cost of contracts by avoiding paying a premium to cover the contractor’s exposure to unlimited liability and insurances associated with this position. It can open competition to a wider range of suppliers and take advantage of small and medium sized local suppliers.

A characteristic output from a liability assessment is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Liability assessment summary chart

Distribution showing the level of confidence that prospective liability limits will not be exceeded

Risk management makes a strong contribution to any complex project. The complexity and volatility of ICT projects means that they often face greater challenges than other projects, so they can benefit greatly from the application of formal risk management techniques. Risk management brings improved information, more realistic plans and better communication about an uncertain future. It is also an effective means of bringing potentially adversarial groups, such as project sponsors and funding delegates, to a mutually acceptable view of the best way forward.

We also engage in a range of activities involving high-technology systems engineering and systems integration, particularly in the defence sector. This includes risk assessments and the development of risk management strategies for large, complex high-technology projects.

ICT projects

ACTEWAGL, Core Systems Replacement Program

We conducted quantitative risk assessments to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the four business-oriented contracts.

Air Services Australia, ATC Future Systems Program

We conducted quantitative risk assessments with Defence and Air Services to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the acquisition and support contracts.

Alcoa Australia, corporate systems business continuity analysis

We carried out a quantitative analysis of the expected cost to the business of systems interruptions, the temporary measures that would be required until the system was reinstated and the cost of reconciling and updating business information after an event. This was used to drive business continuity planning and assess the need for a hot standby site, which was found to be unnecessary.

Australian Communications and Media Authority, TUSMA

We facilitated a qualitative risk assessment for the maintenance of fixed lines to households not affected by the National Broadband Network rollout.

Australian Customs Service, IT Reform Program

We provided risk management services to the program, including facilitating risk assessments, managing the PMO risk management processes, updating and maintaining project risk registers; we conducted quantitative risk assessments to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the ICT contracts associated with the reform.

Australian Taxation Office, ICT Market Testing Program

We conducted quantitative risk assessments to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the four main ICT contracts.

Defence Central Office, IT Market Testing Project

We provided risk management services to the project, including facilitating risk assessments, managing the project risk management processes, updating and maintaining project risk registers, RFT development and tender evaluation on matters relating to risk management.

Defence JP2047, Terrestrial Communications

We conducted quantitative risk assessments to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the two communications contracts.

Defence JP2099, Identity Management

We provided risk management services to the project, including facilitating risk assessments, managing the project risk management processes, updating and maintaining project risk registers, RFT development and tender evaluation on matters relating to risk management.

Defence, Cadets On-Line Administration System (COAS)

We facilitated a qualitative risk assessment for the roll out of the COAS system across Defence

Defence, Central Processing

We conducted quantitative risk assessments with project stakeholders to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability to be applied to the new Defence Central Processing contract.

Defence, High Frequency Communications, Support Services Contract

We conducted quantitative risk assessments with project stakeholders to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability to be applied to a major contract variation.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Secure Gateway

We conducted quantitative risk assessments with 12 agency stakeholders to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the Gateway contracts.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Passport Redevelopment Program

We conducted quantitative risk assessments to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the contracts.

Department of Health and Ageing, Enterprise Data Warehouse

We conducted quantitative risk assessments to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the EDW contracts.

Department of Industry, ICT SMEs Mentoring Program

We developed and delivered a one-day training course to ICT small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on basics of risk management and risk management in tendering for government ICT business.

Department of Internal Affairs (New Zealand)

We carried out quantitative risk analyses of the costs of the Passport Redevelopment project, the Passport Personalisation project, the Financial Application Service Transformation project and the Emergency Management Information System project.

Ministry of Education (New Zealand)

We carried out quantitative risk analyses of the Ultrafast Broadband in Schools project’s costs and benefits, the National Education Network project’s costs, the Payroll project’s cost of delays, and the Early Learning Information System project’s costs.

Ministry of Justice (New Zealand)

We carried out quantitative risk analyses of the costs of the Disaster Recovery project, the Segmentation project, and the Electronic Operating Model project, and we facilitated a qualitative risk workshop and analysis of the Family Justice Implementation Programme’s ICT project risks.

New Zealand Defence Force

We carried out a quantitative risk analysis of the costs of the Human Resources Management Information System project.

New Zealand Police

We carried out a quantitative risk analysis of the costs of the Human Resources Management Information System project.

Skills Victoria, TAFE Student Records System

We used quantitative risk modelling of the cost of implementing a new student record system across 13 TAFEs to compare alternative tenders and select a preferred procurement model. Later we used qualitative risk assessment and quantitative risk analysis to support decision-making during project implementation.

The Treasury, Standard Business Reporting

We conducted quantitative risk assessments to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the SBR contracts.

VicRoads, Registration and Licencing System upgrade

We used qualitative risk assessment and quantitative risk modelling to support the preparation of a business case for the replacement of an old system used to manage the issue and control of drivers’ and other licences, leading up to the project being approved. Later, we carried out tender risk assessments and prepared risk adjusted tender price forecasts to assist in tender selection.

Victorian Department of Transport, Freight Infrastructure Charge Project

We conducted quantitative risk assessments to determine appropriate limits of supplier liability for the FIC contract.

Victorian Government telecommunications service procurement

We evaluated the likely financial consequences of over fifty tenders for mobile, fixed line and data service provision to the Victorian Government, taking account of the options to accept multiple services from the same or different suppliers. This analysis was used to support tender selection and price negotiation.

Victorian Department of Transport

We conducted risk assessments for a number of projects including

  • Core Train Control & Monitoring Systems Project, a train control, signal control and train reporting system

  • Performance Review System Project, which works with real-time data for monitoring train timetable changes and incidents

  • Rail Operations Management System Project, comprising Timetable, Fleet and Staff management systems

  • Customer Information System for the Metro system Passenger Information Display system for the Regional Fast Rail Project