3 Success Factors for Virtual Process Improvement Teams
Working remotely isn’t always easy, especially during real-time business process improvement (BPI) efforts involving many stakeholders. In the past year, we’ve evolved three success factors for facilitating BPI sessions virtually: Take time to scope the effort to avoid rework. Though it can be tempting to…
Read MoreFI$Cal: Beyond Fiscal Functionality
FI$Cal, or the Financial Information System for California, is far more than the state’s accounting, budgeting, and procurement system. As a robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, FI$Cal has unique capabilities that departments are beginning to realize. We’ve previously highlighted our work implementing FI$Cal functionality…
Read MoreFacilitating Business Process Improvement in a Virtual Setting
At Highlands, we have helped dozens of clients improve their business processes through facilitated meetings, in person. With stay-at-home orders, we knew we had to adapt to a fully digital setting. Here are three of our many lessons learned: Choose the platform wisely. There is…
Read MoreLeveraging Technology in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Highlands Consulting helps government clients manage digital transformation. There’s an image floating around LinkedIn and Twitter asking people “Who led the digital transformation of your company? 1. CEO; 2. CTO; or 3. COVID-19?” Many of us might circle answer #3. Change was hard before the…
Read MoreTransitioning to FI$Cal Department-Wide
Implementation of the Financial Information System for California (FI$Cal) represents massive change across the entire state. Highlands Consulting is wrapping up the second phase of a FI$Cal transition effort for a large state department. Phase one transitioned administrative staff in the Accounting, Budgets, and Procurement…
Read MoreFinding the (Often Hidden) Benefits of FI$Cal
Nearly all designated State departments have been using FI$Cal for at least a year now. And with such a complex system, it’s been challenging indeed. Many of us at Highlands are continuously evaluating how to help our clients take full advantage of FI$Cal and gain…
Read MoreEmbracing Change at the PegaWorld Conference
Last month, Eric Norton and I attended Pega’s annual conference, PegaWorld2019, along with 5,000 professionals from across the globe. Pega is an innovative platform that has automated business processes for large and small organizations, including a growing number of State of California departments. Highlands Consulting’s…
Read MoreFI$Cal: A Non-IT Project?
The Financial Information System for California, known as FI$Cal, is setting records for state IT project expenditures. But from the perspective of departments transitioning to this new technology, it’s not an IT project in the traditional sense. For these departments, success depends upon their ability…
Read MoreConsultant Speak vs. the Nitty Gritty
For nearly 30 years, I’ve enjoyed working in the government technology industry, focused on serving the State of California. Along the way, I’ve met and worked with hundreds of amazing consultants with business and technical expertise. In recent years, I’ve become sensitive to what our…
Read MoreThe Six Core Concepts of Business Analysis
In my current role as an acquisition consultant, I am helping California agencies plan and procure new information technology solutions. Starting with a structured approach to business analysis has set the stage for success. The Business Analysis Core Concept Model (BACCM™), developed by the International Institute…
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