Service Delivery Manager
Service Delivery Manager
Understanding the relevant functional areas of Intelligent Automation (IA) and Artificial
Intelligence (AI) involves gaining knowledge and experience across various aspects of these
technologies. This understanding is often developed through a combination of hands-on
program delivery, implementation, and ongoing support. Here’s a breakdown of the key
functional areas:
1. Process Automation
Ethical AI: Ensuring that AI systems are designed and implemented in a way that is
ethical, transparent, and fair, avoiding biases and respecting user privacy.
Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to industry regulations and standards when
implementing AI and automation solutions, particularly in industries like finance,
healthcare, and government.
Security: Ensuring that AI and automation systems are secure against threats such as
data breaches, unauthorized access, and other cybersecurity risks.
7. Cross-Functional Collaboration
To gain expertise in these areas, practical experience is essential. This can be achieved by:
By mastering these functional areas, professionals can effectively deliver and support AI and
automation solutions that drive innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage for their
organizations.
Managing the delivery of Automation and AI projects, including handling budgets, forecasts,
and strategic roadmaps, requires a combination of technical expertise, project management
skills, and strategic planning. Here’s how to approach this process effectively:
Align with Business Objectives: Start by ensuring that the AI and automation
initiatives align with the broader business objectives. This might include goals like
improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, enhancing customer experience, or
driving innovation.
Define the Vision: Clearly articulate the long-term vision for AI and automation
within the organization. This should include a roadmap outlining key milestones,
deliverables, and expected outcomes over time.
Prioritize Initiatives: Not all automation and AI projects can be executed
simultaneously. Prioritize projects based on their potential impact, feasibility,
resource availability, and alignment with strategic goals. High-impact, quick-win
projects might be prioritized early in the roadmap.
Set Measurable Goals: Define KPIs and success metrics for each project. These
could include efficiency gains, cost savings, time reductions, or improvements in
customer satisfaction. Make sure these goals are quantifiable and aligned with the
organization’s strategic objectives.
Initial Budget Planning: Start by estimating the total budget required for each
project, including costs for technology, software, personnel, training, and potential
consulting fees. Break down the budget into phases or milestones.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Perform a cost-benefit analysis to ensure that the projected
benefits justify the investment. This might include calculating the ROI, payback
period, and net present value (NPV) of the projects.
Ongoing Forecasting: Continuously monitor project expenditures against the budget.
Use forecasting techniques to predict future spending and identify potential budget
overruns or savings. Adjust the budget as necessary based on these forecasts.
Scenario Planning: Develop different financial scenarios (best-case, worst-case, and
most likely) to prepare for various outcomes. This will help in making informed
decisions if the project deviates from the expected path.
Financial Reporting: Establish regular financial reporting processes to keep
stakeholders informed about the project’s financial status. This includes tracking
actual versus planned expenses, identifying variances, and explaining deviations.
Implementation: Execute the project according to the plan, ensuring that all team
members understand their roles and responsibilities. Use project management tools to
track progress, manage tasks, and ensure deadlines are met.
Continuous Monitoring: Monitor the project’s progress against the timeline, budget,
and strategic goals. Use KPIs to measure the effectiveness of the automation or AI
solution and make data-driven decisions to optimize performance.
Quality Assurance: Implement rigorous testing and validation processes to ensure
that the AI models and automation workflows perform as expected. This might
include testing for accuracy, reliability, scalability, and compliance with regulations.
Change Management: Implement change management practices to ensure smooth
adoption of new AI and automation solutions. This includes training for end-users,
clear communication about the benefits and impacts, and support for overcoming
resistance.
By effectively managing the delivery of AI and automation projects, along with careful
budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning, organizations can ensure that they not only
achieve their immediate goals but also lay the foundation for long-term success and
scalability.
Managing the delivery of Automation and AI projects, including budgets, forecasts, and
strategic roadmaps, requires leveraging the right tools and methodologies. Here’s how this
can be approached in a real-time scenario, using specific tools and practices:
Tools:
Microsoft Visio or Lucidchart: For creating visual representations of the project
roadmap and timelines.
Jira Align: For scaling Agile practices across the organization and aligning project
goals with business strategy.
Aha!: For roadmapping and setting product or project strategy.
Scenario:
Tools:
Scenario:
Company: A healthcare provider automating patient data entry and using AI for
predictive analytics in patient care.
Action: The project manager uses Microsoft Project to create a detailed project plan,
outlining tasks like data collection, model training, and system integration. Tasks are
assigned to team members, and dependencies are mapped out. Jira is used to manage
the development sprints, track issues, and ensure that the team is on track to meet
deadlines. Confluence is used to document project details, share knowledge, and
collaborate on complex tasks.
Tools:
SAP or Oracle Financials: For managing and tracking project budgets, including
real-time updates on expenditures.
Adaptive Insights: For creating financial forecasts and performing scenario analysis.
Excel or Google Sheets: For flexible, custom financial modeling and budget tracking.
Scenario:
Tools:
Scenario:
Tools:
ServiceNow: For managing support tickets and incident tracking related to the AI and
automation systems.
Zendesk: For customer support management and tracking user feedback.
GitHub or GitLab: For version control and managing updates to the AI models and
automation scripts.
Scenario:
Tools:
Balanced Scorecard Software (e.g., ClearPoint Strategy): For strategic review and
aligning AI and automation outcomes with organizational goals.
Miro or MURAL: For collaborative retrospectives and continuous improvement
sessions with the team.
Tableau or Power BI: For analyzing long-term data trends and identifying areas for
improvement.
Scenario:
Company: A telecom company that has rolled out a new AI-driven customer service
automation system.
Action: The leadership team conducts a strategic review using ClearPoint Strategy to
evaluate how the AI system is contributing to overall business objectives, such as
customer satisfaction and cost reduction. They use data visualized in Tableau to
analyze trends in customer service metrics before and after the AI implementation. In
a Miro session, the team collaborates on a retrospective to identify lessons learned and
brainstorm ideas for further improvements, such as integrating AI with additional
customer service channels.
Strategic Roadmap: Developed with Aha!, aligning the initiative with long-term
business goals like enhancing customer service and reducing operational costs.
Project Planning and Delivery: Managed in Jira, with a clear scope defined, tasks
assigned, and Agile sprints tracked.
Budgeting and Forecasting: Handled in SAP with real-time tracking of costs and
adaptive forecasting for potential ROI.
Execution and Monitoring: Progress monitored using Power BI dashboards, with
performance tracked in New Relic, and issues discussed in real-time via Slack.
Post-Implementation: Support provided through ServiceNow, with updates managed
via GitHub, and customer feedback tracked in Zendesk.
Strategic Review: Ongoing performance reviewed using ClearPoint Strategy, with
continuous improvement sessions held in Miro, informed by data analysis in Tableau.
This comprehensive approach ensures that the AI and automation projects are delivered
effectively, within budget, and aligned with strategic goals, while also allowing for
continuous improvement and adaptation to changing business needs.
3. Manage stakeholders across the IT Services landscape regarding the
Intelligent Automation Tech initiatives, with a particular focus on
leveraging hyper automation, technical integration, including interfaces
between impacted and/or dependent applications
Tools:
Stakeholder Analysis Tools (e.g., Power BI, Excel): For mapping stakeholders and
analyzing their influence and interest.
RACI Matrix Tools (e.g., Lucidchart, Excel): For defining roles and responsibilities
(Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed).
Scenario:
Tools:
Scenario:
Tools:
Integration Platforms (e.g., MuleSoft, Zapier, Apache Camel): For managing data
flows and integration between applications.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Tools (e.g., UiPath, Blue Prism, Automation
Anywhere): For implementing hyper-automation.
API Management Tools (e.g., Postman, SwaggerHub): For managing and testing
APIs that connect different applications.
Scenario:
Tools:
Scenario:
Tools:
Power BI or Tableau: For creating real-time dashboards and reports on project
progress and system performance.
Confluence: For documenting decisions, meeting notes, and ongoing updates.
Feedback Loops (e.g., through Slack or Teams Channels): For continuous
feedback and quick iterations.
Scenario:
Tools:
Learning Management Systems (LMS, e.g., Moodle, Coursera for Business): For
training stakeholders on new systems and processes.
Change Management Tools (e.g., Prosci’s ADKAR model, ChangeGear): For
planning and executing change management strategies.
Gamification Tools (e.g., Kahoot!, Menti): For engaging stakeholders during
training sessions and making learning interactive.
Scenario:
Tools:
Stakeholder Identification: Tools like Excel are used to map stakeholders and create
a RACI matrix for clear roles and responsibilities.
Engagement: Microsoft Teams and Miro are utilized for regular communication,
interactive workshops, and feedback collection.
Technical Integration: MuleSoft, UiPath, and Postman facilitate the integration and
automation of CRM, ERP, and other critical systems.
Dependency Management: ServiceNow tracks dependencies, with middleware and
version control systems ensuring smooth interfaces between applications.
Continuous Feedback: Power BI dashboards provide real-time project insights, with
Slack channels fostering ongoing communication and Confluence documenting
progress.
Change Management: Moodle, Prosci’s ADKAR model, and gamification tools
ensure effective training and stakeholder engagement.
Post-Implementation: ServiceNow and New Relic monitor the system's
performance, with UserVoice collecting feedback for continuous improvement.
This approach ensures that all stakeholders are aligned, informed, and engaged throughout
the Intelligent Automation initiative, resulting in a successful implementation that meets the
organization's strategic goals.
Stakeholders Involved:
Business Executives: Need to understand the strategic benefits and ROI.
IT Department: Responsible for technical integration and system compatibility.
End Users: Employees who will interact with the new system daily.
Vendors: Providers of automation tools and technologies.
Compliance Officers: Ensure that the solution meets regulatory requirements.
1. Requirement Gathering:
o Meet with stakeholders to understand their needs and goals. For instance,
business executives might be looking for cost reductions and improved
processing times, while end users might be focused on ease of use and
minimal disruption.
2. Solution Design:
o Design an architecture that integrates the hyper-automation platform with
existing systems. This involves defining the interfaces between systems,
ensuring data consistency, and addressing any potential security concerns.
3. Technology Selection:
o Evaluate and select appropriate technologies and tools for automation. This
could involve choosing between different RPA (Robotic Process Automation)
tools, AI components, and integration platforms.
4. Integration Planning:
o Develop a detailed plan for integrating the new platform with the existing
CRM, ERP, and legacy systems. This includes defining data flow,
transformation rules, and ensuring seamless communication between systems.
5. Proof of Concept:
o Create a prototype or pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of the
solution. This helps in validating the design and making necessary adjustments
before full-scale implementation.
6. Stakeholder Communication:
o Regularly update stakeholders on progress, manage expectations, and address
any concerns. For example, keep business executives informed about the
project’s alignment with business goals and provide technical updates to the
IT team.
7. Implementation Oversight:
o Oversee the deployment of the hyper-automation platform, ensuring that it is
installed and configured correctly. Work with the IT team to resolve any
issues that arise during implementation.
8. Post-Implementation Review:
o Assess the performance of the new system, gather feedback from users, and
make any necessary improvements. This step ensures that the solution
continues to meet the organization’s needs and delivers the expected benefits.
9. Documentation and Training:
o Provide comprehensive documentation and training for end users and IT staff
to ensure smooth adoption and usage of the new system.
In this scenario, the Solution Architect plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between
business needs and technical solutions, ensuring that the hyper-automation platform is
effectively implemented and delivers value to the organization.