Problem:

The Office of Development & Alumni Relations at the University of Chicago required a SharePoint Portal Site fortheir Division,specifically for immediate use by their Communications and Operations departments. Their need was to rollout a portal that could be used both division-wide and by other units at the University. This would allow them to have centralized Communication and Collaboration areas across units thathave similar goals yet different work processes. Their need had two main components; one for an overall portal that would contain information currently on their intranet, and also serve as a landing site for identified needs. The other component included an area for managing projects. More than 60% of their users needed to view project related information only, while the remaining users needed to capture and share information with others.

Solution:

The University of Chicago decided to deploy BrightWork pmPoint as the application to manage projects in the organization. pmPoint was able to integrate seamlessly into their overall portal structure and enable the project team to easily navigate from their portal into a dedicated Project Management area and get comprehensive reports on all active projects. Since pmPoint allowed for easy customization, the diverse work within the division allowed for easy reporting and standardization of a methodology across all teams.

 “Working with BrightWork in the deployment of our site was easy, thorough and informative. They took the time to understand what we needed and helped us customize the best site possible for our users. The excitement and energy from our users has confirmed that we made the best choice in purchasing pmPoint.” Jacquie Spearman – University of Chicago

Problem

Sheppard Mullin is an AmLaw 100 firm with approximately 480 attorneys located worldwide delivering prompt, high-quality and cost-effective legal services. Sheppard Mullin needed a solution to bring their IT Projects and initiatives to a collaborative audience. They required a process to gather all project information under a single solution where it could be managed according to a standard, repeatable project management discipline across the entire portfolio of projects.

Solution

Sheppard Mullin chose BrightWork pmPoint because it provided them with a straightforward and cost-effective solution to meet their IT Project requirements. The SharePoint-based solution enabled collaboration between the Project Managers and the project teams and also fit inside their existing technology infrastructure. In addition, pmPoint also enabled them to rapidly deploy a standard project management Methodology (Microsoft Solutions Framework) across the firm, allowing all project information to be centralized, resulting in greater structure, visibility and achievement.

Problem
The Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft (Redmond, Seattle) are involved in many product launches with many partners. Each launch typically involves Microsoft as the supplier of Windows Mobile software for Smartphone or Pocket PC, an OEM who makes the device and a Mobile Operator who will market the device. As with every launch of a new product, much of the effort goes into managing and resolving issues to ensure commercial success.

Solution
BrightWork Issue Manager gives Microsoft and its partners a SharePoint based solution to manage and resolve issues 24/7 around the world. Each product launch has its own project web so privacy and focus is ensured. Each partner has their own view with tailored reports so they can stay on top of issue status and resolution. The advanced list features added to SharePoint (field change history, email notifications on change of ownership or assignment, indelible comment history) makes responsibility, history and status very clear.

Problem
Trident Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Argonaut Group, Inc., is dedicated to servicing the insurance needs of preferred governmental entities throughout the United States. Their product range includes experienced underwriting, risk control, simplified transactions, dedicated claims management, and superior customer service etc. While their products and services were second to none, they often struggled to bring their many business projects and initiatives under control. They needed a way to bring together all project information under a single umbrella where they could be managed according to a standard, repeatable project management discipline. 

Solution
Trident Insurance chose BrightWork because it provided them with a simple, cost effective solution to solve their biggest business problem. BrightWork enabled them to rapidly implement a standard project management process across the organization where all project information would be centralized resulting in greater control, visibility and, ultimately success! BrightWork web parts provide a way to “roll-up” key project data from across areas providing real time reports of the critical information that they need to make better informed business decisions. The SharePoint based solution made it simple for them to deploy and train and it fit perfectly with their existing technology infrastructure.

Problem
The Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) provides retirement and other benefits to the employees of state government, public education, and some local, county, public or quasi-public organization or political subdivision. They are the safe keepers of the pensions for thousands of Alabamians and they take their job seriously! The IT project management group at RSA was facing increasing pressure to deliver evermore complex IT Projects with few resources. The problem was they often felt like they were starting from scratch on each new project; spending a great deal of unnecessary time and effort launching and monitoring their IT Projects. They needed a “system” that they could bring to bear on each new IT Project to ensure that they got it right from the start and could build on their successes on future projects.

Solution
RSA chose the BrightWork IT Project Management Solution. BrightWork provided them with a readymade environment for launching and managing IT project efforts based on a proven IT project management methodology, the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF). BrightWork came preloaded with all of the content from the MSF in a fully integrated SharePoint based environment. This provided them with the ability to easily create and launch MSF based project workspaces from a central template library of different types of lifecycles as per the MSF Process Model – small (a few days), medium (weeks to months), large (months to years), web services, agile MSF Implementation, etc. Project information was interconnected, with views and reports providing them with an online project management system they required out of the box. RSA is happy and the pensioners of Alabama can continue to sleep well knowing they are in good hands!

Problem
Panoratech are a leading innovator in the provision of world class security & integrity systems to the online gaming community. They produce an exclusive software package which offers a comprehensive set of features that gives them the edge over other vendors. The management of Panoratech’s rapidly expanding software development wing wanted to implement a proven methodology that would serve as the foundation for all future software development. Panoratech’s continuous expansion necessitates an exceptional level of collaboration between product owners and developers, combined with clear accountability and delegation of responsibility.

Solution
Panoratech chose BrightWork to implement a new, agile process for all software development projects because it was a powerful SharePoint extension that included full support for the Microsoft Solutions Framework for Agile Software Development.

“We selected BrightWork to manage our agile software projects because we needed a solution that had a flexible development structure yet was based on an accepted software development framework. BrightWork provided us with a solid platform for organizational collaboration, process tracking and monitoring as well as the ability to track project items on a very detailed level.”

CJ Lee, Chief Technical Officer, Panoratech

Vectren Corporation, headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, is an Energy and Applied technology holding company which serves over 1 million customers and has $3.4 billion in assets. They provide energy and related applied technology solutions to make customers productive, comfortable and secure.

Interview with Mike Chambliss, IT Department, Vectren Corporation.

Why did you choose BrightWork?
The software development and support branch of IT in our organization is split into 5 different groups, each with a specific focus. Of these groups, one was using a work management system produced by a third party, one was using a system produced in house, one wasn’t using a system at all, and two were using vanilla SharePoint. The goal was to get all 5 groups onto one work management system, but the challenge was to find one flexible enough to handle the necessary differences in how each group managed their work.

Because of the need for flexibility, SharePoint was seen as a possible solution. SharePoint is a great collaboration suite, but we found it to be lacking the features of a good work management system. Our primary concerns were organization and reporting of data once it was entered into the system. With these concerns in mind, we began our research for a third party solution. BrightWork was eventually chosen as a cost effective way to bring these necessary elements to a framework we found to be flexible enough to interface with our complex IT structure.

What are the work management challenges that are currently facing your organization and how has BrightWork improved your work management process?
The data we collect in BrightWork will be used to improve project planning so that we can deliver more realistic expectations to our business counterparts. It will also be used as an accountability and resource management tool for improved IT oversight. Finally, BrightWork will bring five previously disconnected groups within IT into one work management solution, streamlining their processes and how the rest of the corporation interacts with IT.

What progress has your advanced customization of BrightWork permitted?
We’ve made heavy customizations in order to manage not only project work, but unscheduled maintenance work in what we refer to as “maintenance buckets”. Unlike a project, these buckets do not have a finite start and end date. Rather, they remain perpetually open and able to handle the various day to day maintenance tasks all IT organizations are faced with. Through customized List Item Reports, we’re able to report on this type of work alongside project work, giving accurate views into a team’s or individual’s work load.

We’ve also produced custom .NET programming which sits on top of the SharePoint API. This programming allows us to extract SharePoint data for use in other, more complex aggregate reporting for the executive audience. Beyond this, we’ve created our own templates based on the standard data requirements and terminology used within our corporation. This has made the transition to a new work management system much less painful for both the individual and the corporation.

Problem
Skanska USA Building, one of the largest contractors in the U.S., is the name behind many of today’s most advanced and prestigious facilities. Their expertise spans the construction industry spectrum, from small renovations to billion-dollar projects delivered under at-risk total program management to cost-plus construction management – and everything in between. Skanska’s IT department was faced with the challenge of initiating, developing and managing a host of initiatives and projects in support of the company’s continuing advancement. The IT department is also responsible for operating and maintaining software solutions.

Solution
“Skanska USA Building has been using BrightWork to manage our IT projects across the enterprise. BrightWork was recently used to help manage the successful relocation of our data center from Parsippany, New Jersey to Charlotte, North Carolina. BrightWork provides the collaboration and functional features needed for projects like this.”

Andy Hough, IT Project Manager, Skanska

BrightWork's newest partner, Spinnaker New Technologies, recently announced their successful deployment of BrightWork Reporter in the Government of Montenegro's SharePoint Installation.  Spinnaker is a software and system integrator operating within the ComTrade Group, the leading ICT firm in Southeast Europe. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Belgrade, Spinnaker currently operate across Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina and Macedonia.

Problem
In June 2006, Montenegro split from Serbia to become the world's newest state. One of the newly formed administrative divisions - the Committee for Economic Policy (KEP) - was assigned responsibility for overseeing the preparation of Cabinet meetings for the Government of Montenegro. The Committee's primary tasks included research into topics for discussion, preparation of meeting agendas and it was also charged with recording meeting conclusions, follow-up tasks and project assignments. One critical requirement was that all reports from each meeting be computerized and retained for future reference. Considering the importance of many of these documents, combined with the quantity of tasks managed by the Committee, a solution was urgently required that would enable the committee's management team to securely store, manage and report across these confidential documents.

In order to keep track of agendas, conclusions and follow-up assignments from each Cabinet meeting, the Committee for Economic Policy installed Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server. Using customized sites and lists, the Committee was easily able to store the required meeting documentation however, while standard WSS web parts met their collaborative requirements, they lacked the ability to:
 

• Gather and rollup data from different WSS sites and/or lists
• Report across thousands of SharePoint sites
• Set up reports to run and be emailed on a scheduled basis

Solution
Supported by Spinnaker, the Committee for Economic Policy deployed BrightWork Reporter on top of their existing SharePoint installation. BrightWork Reporter extends SharePoint from a foundation for collaboration into a highly structured reporting environment and delivers the only SharePoint web part that enables customized rollup reporting across multiple SharePoint sites, lists and fields.

BrightWork Reporter enabled the Committee's management team to co-ordinate high quantities of projects, assign work items and set timelines all in one place. The latest version of BrightWork for SharePoint also includes the ability to schedule reports that are automatically emailed at specified times, which was vital to departmental managers in their preparation for upcoming meetings.

Problem
The Tetley Group have been manufacturing and distributing tea for 160 years.  Along with their parent company, Tata Tea, they are the world's second largest tea company.  Based in the UK, with operations spanning the globe, they now have a variety of products for sale in over 40 countries worldwide. Tetley have a long tradition of innovation, as the organization that first introduced tea bags to the UK over 50 years ago and also developed the first round tea bag. They now have a wide range of products, from the original Tetley black tea in teabags to fruit teas, spicy tea lattes and chilled ice teas.

In the face of increased global competition, Tetley continue to maintain their pacesetting trend by placing high priority on New Product Development. This process is managed by the Planning and Projects Department, which recently identified that their reliance on spreadsheets and word documents was becoming an increasingly inefficient way to manage new product development. Tetley therefore needed a more effective way to collaborate on projects, track project progress and facilitate communication between its globally diversified workforce.

Solution
To solve its project management and collaboration challenges, Tetley deployed BrightWork Solutions for Project Management on the SharePoint platform, which includes 4 SharePoint solutions for managing work and projects. Tetley then selected BrightWork's Business Project Manager, an out of the box SharePoint solution designed to empower organizations to manage business projects effectively and built around the best practice guidelines of the Microsoft Solutions Framework. Implementing BrightWork Solutions for SharePoint enabled Tetley's project managers to co-ordinate high quantities of projects, assign work items and set timelines all in one place. Critically, visibility into overall project status has been vastly increased, with top level management now able to push project information from across the entire department into a single report that can be scheduled to arrive at specified times.

Problem
Van Aarsen International has selected BrightWork to facilitate the implementation of a new SharePoint based task management system. Headquartered in Panheel, Holland, Van Aarsen International is a global leading company with nearly 60 years of experience in process technology & turnkey-solutions. These distinctive competencies are the crux of their tire recycling & animal feed manufacturing equipment businesses.

Solution
In order to maintain their strategic advantage, support product diversification & market expansion in a highly competitive environment, Van Aarsen opted for BrightWork’s Task Management Solution to manage tasks across the organization. BrightWork's advanced task management solution is a consolidated task management system, combined with email notification & enterprise wide reporting capability, designed to increase organizational flexibility & improve operating efficiency.

Headquartered in Ontario, California, Thermal Dynamics Corporation is an automotive parts manufacturer specialising in transmissions, power steering, hydraulic fluid and Engine Oil Coolers. Founded in 1957, as one of six operating divisions of Dunham-Bush (est. 1903), Thermal Dynamics' expertise in cooling technology has kept them at the forefront of the industry for nearly five decades, supplying top automotive producers such as Ford, GM & Harley Davidson

Since 1996, when Thermal Dynamics International established its first manufacturing joint venture in mainland China, the organization continued to expand its global production and distribution capability. This extra capability resulted in a vastly increased number of orders being received, each of which required the creation of an individual production quotation. However, underlying inefficiencies in the quote generation process meant that Thermal Dynamics' IT Management team was assigned the task of automating the entire process, from conception through to eventual approval or rejection. Top level management also stipulated that they needed to be able to quickly and easily view status reports as well as roll up all quotes and production tasks into one report. Security was another crucial factor with emphasis placed on a solution that could provide a secure area to manage highly confidential documents.

Solution
Thermal Dynamics selected BrightWork Solutions for Project Management in SharePoint to manage their quotation process. Specifically they deployed 'Business Project Manager', one of the four templates included in the BrightWork Suite and built around the best practice guidelines of the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF). Without any programming effort Thermal Dynamics were able to tailor this solution to their specific needs. Production quotes are now generated using a highly customized project template, containing pre set entry fields for each stage of the process that has saved time and eliminated duplication. BrightWork has also helped Thermal Dynamics automate their quote to production process, so that when quotes are approved, the Engineering Department is automatically notified and production initiated. With BrightWork's powerful rollup reporting, management now has much greater visibility into the project status for each quote while related documents are more organized & easily accessible so that project members can quickly find the information they need. These benefits have helped to significantly improve Thermal Dynamics' production efficiency & reduce costs.

"BrightWork enabled us to successfully evolve from an entirely email based quote to production process, to a well documented, semi-automated process." said Hanns Schweis, IT Manager, Thermal Dynamics. "BrightWork's reporting features alone have made an incredible difference in the way things are done and positively impacted the overall productivity of our organization. I can't say enough good things about this unique product."