PORFOLIO PROJECT PORFOLIO PROJECT FOR MSM 620FOR MSM 620

Dala Alphonso

BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY

April 2012

PURPOSE OF INTERVIEWPURPOSE OF INTERVIEW

The purpose of this assignment is to:The purpose of this assignment is to:

Satisfy a portfolio project requirement for Satisfy a portfolio project requirement for MSM 620.MSM 620.

Understand the character of Group Understand the character of Group Protection – IT and Lincoln Financial Protection – IT and Lincoln Financial Group’s learning culture from the Group’s learning culture from the viewpoint of senior management.viewpoint of senior management.

TIM M. (VP)TIM M. (VP)HEAD GROUP PROTECTION – ITHEAD GROUP PROTECTION – IT

The Head of Group Protection’s The Head of Group Protection’s Information Technology.Information Technology.

Began working as a consultant with Began working as a consultant with Lincoln Financial Group a couple of years Lincoln Financial Group a couple of years ago.ago.

Accepted the offer to be Head of Group Accepted the offer to be Head of Group Protection, IT a few months ago.Protection, IT a few months ago.

THE LINCOLN LEGACYTHE LINCOLN LEGACY

On its website, Lincoln Financial Group boasts On its website, Lincoln Financial Group boasts that since its inception with four employees in that since its inception with four employees in 1905, its rich history and enduring legacy of 1905, its rich history and enduring legacy of people and events have strengthened it as an people and events have strengthened it as an organization; nurtured its character and organization; nurtured its character and established a foundation for service that will established a foundation for service that will sustain it for the next 100 years.sustain it for the next 100 years.

What is your take on thisWhat is your take on thisstatement especially from statement especially from a senior management viewpoint?a senior management viewpoint?

As an organization, Lincoln Financial Group:As an organization, Lincoln Financial Group:

Is poised for success in the industry.Is poised for success in the industry. Has consistently shown strong positive growth.Has consistently shown strong positive growth. Displayed a positive culture of learning and Displayed a positive culture of learning and

adapting to the changing trends in the adapting to the changing trends in the marketplace.marketplace.

The quality of work force being introduced into the The quality of work force being introduced into the organization.organization.

LEARNING CULTURELEARNING CULTURE

Areas where the organization presently Areas where the organization presently needs improvement or learning?needs improvement or learning?

Improve marketing approach.Improve marketing approach. Learn from the success of others.Learn from the success of others. Educate both internal staff and customer Educate both internal staff and customer

base. It is what leads to growth in businessbase. It is what leads to growth in business

CASE STUDYCASE STUDY

The original intent of the CRE project was to The original intent of the CRE project was to reduce head count on the processing side reduce head count on the processing side but the project ran into problems because but the project ran into problems because the big picture was not fully grasped from the big picture was not fully grasped from the onset. the onset.

When this happens, a task mayWhen this happens, a task may

not produce the expected result …not produce the expected result …

CRE PROJECTCRE PROJECT

The CRE project was to reduce head count The CRE project was to reduce head count on the processing side by leveraging on the processing side by leveraging better and smarter ways of doing better and smarter ways of doing business using technology. business using technology.

There were several challenges with There were several challenges with

this projects including but notthis projects including but not

limited to the fact that:limited to the fact that:

CRE PROJECTCRE PROJECT

There ought to be better focus on how There ought to be better focus on how business needs change.business needs change.

There was a miscalculation in the choice There was a miscalculation in the choice of vendors.of vendors.

There should have been a better There should have been a better

way of managing vendors andway of managing vendors and

vendor relationship.vendor relationship.

TECHNOLOGY VS. STRATEGYTECHNOLOGY VS. STRATEGY

How can the gap between technology and How can the gap between technology and strategic vision of the organization strategic vision of the organization

be be bridged?bridged?

As an IT organization, we must be As an IT organization, we must be realistic. It is not in every instance that realistic. It is not in every instance that the latest and greatest technology will the latest and greatest technology will meet the needs of our business.meet the needs of our business.

Learn new technologies, direction and the Learn new technologies, direction and the most efficient way of getting the job done.most efficient way of getting the job done.

TECHNOLOGY VS. STRATEGYTECHNOLOGY VS. STRATEGY

Access and take advantage of Access and take advantage of tools at our disposal where it tools at our disposal where it makes sense and adds value.makes sense and adds value.

We need to be open to change We need to be open to change and new ways of operating. For and new ways of operating. For

example, we need to move away example, we need to move away from in-house custom from in-house custom

applications.applications. The organization must be ready to The organization must be ready to

change and adapt.change and adapt.

BUSINESS RELATIONSBUSINESS RELATIONS

How can the gap between the IT organization How can the gap between the IT organization and its business users be improved?and its business users be improved?

1. The most important thing is that skills 1. The most important thing is that skills need to change. Rather than offer the need to change. Rather than offer the traditional response, the organization traditional response, the organization needs by improve soft skillsneeds by improve soft skills

Communication with the business.Communication with the business.

BUSINESS RELATIONSBUSINESS RELATIONS

How can the gap between the IT organization How can the gap between the IT organization and its business users be improved?and its business users be improved?

Influence the business within its capacity Influence the business within its capacity by speaking the business language.by speaking the business language.

Demonstrate an understanding of the Demonstrate an understanding of the issues.issues.

Build strategic partnership with the Build strategic partnership with the business.business.

BUSINESS RELATIONSBUSINESS RELATIONS

2. Improve our set of skills to become better 2. Improve our set of skills to become better through:through:

• Data ManagementData Management

• Service ManagementService Management

• Project management and IntegrationProject management and Integration

• Basically whatever it takes to earn the Basically whatever it takes to earn the trust of our clients by the quality of trust of our clients by the quality of delivery over time.delivery over time.

LEARNING IMPROVEMENTLEARNING IMPROVEMENT

Where do you see your organizationWhere do you see your organization in the next 5 years?in the next 5 years?

An organization that is valued asAn organization that is valued asa partner and not just a service group.a partner and not just a service group.

Managing entire life cycles for the Managing entire life cycles for the products delivered to the business.products delivered to the business.

An organization with improved planning An organization with improved planning and managing processes in placeand managing processes in place

LEARNING IMPROVEMENTLEARNING IMPROVEMENT

Where do you see your ITWhere do you see your ITOrganization in the next 5 years?Organization in the next 5 years?

Move to improvement byMove to improvement by understanding business processes.understanding business processes. Proactively demonstrate an improvement Proactively demonstrate an improvement

in business processes.in business processes. Internal discipline to broker solutions and Internal discipline to broker solutions and

leverage shared services.leverage shared services.