Creating an Application Management System (APM)

The assignment:

a. Identify all (as many as possible) application inventories throughout the company. With These inventories (Excel spreadsheets, Word lists, etc.) I then compared all applications listed removing duplications to build our first, combined (unverified application inventory).

b. Verify each application’s name is correct, the proper owner is listed on the inventory

c. Build an Application Portfolio Management (APM) system prototype

d. Identify 3–4 “low hanging fruit” opportunities where APM can provide immediate benefit to teams/users. Build solution for each as part of the prototype

e. Present prototype to upper management and our CIO (Executive Sponsor) requesting approval to move forward with the actual APM build

Once CIO approval was received:

a. Created APM Workgroup comprised of key representatives from disparate IT and Business areas. The purpose of this workgroup was to review (and approve) the APM Implementation plan.

b. Once implementation planning was approved the workgroup meetings that followed focused on APM concepts, planning, and further development /design.

c. Began building the actual APM pilot design in Microfocus Project Portfolio Management (PPM)

d. Developed APM training class and usage documents

e. Presented overview at multiple town hall meetings and to individual teams. Solicited feedback for future design/updates

f. Verified application names and application owner names were imported into APM

g. Pilot testing group conducted pilot testing in the Development environment. All reported issues were addressed and corrected (Added/edited/deleted) until all testers approved the design.

h. Migrated APM up to live Production Environment

i. Collaborated with and successfully completed 4 internal audits

j. Held multiple support sessions where users/teams could drop by with their APM questions. Also provided support for individuals and individual teams.

k. Developed timekeeping strategy used to determine the cost of keeping an application up and running

l. In order to benefit from increased functionality and stability, migrated APM from Microfocus PPM to Orbus iServer

m. Transitioned ownership of APM to Enterprise Architecture group

n. Remained available for consulting as needed