Leading Through Uncertainty

Opportunity

This global not-for-profit produces and sells the market-leading educational assessment software and has a mission to partner with schools and districts to ensure all kids learn. The product engineering division is responsible for creating and operating many web-based systems from two data centers. Management turnover, however, created a leadership gap in the operations team, placing several mission-critical technology projects at risk during a peak time in the annual business cycle.

Solution

Pepper Foster Consulting was engaged to manage a technology team and its projects. Daily workflow was reorganized around existing-but-underutilized agile and collaboration tools. Two urgent projects were planned and delivered in a short timeframe, avoiding a service outage to customers. New vendor contracts were negotiated and signed in conjunction with purchasing. New engineers and a permanent team manager were interviewed and hired in collaboration with human resources and engineering division leaders. A multi-year roadmap was developed and a framework for project management was established.

Outcome

Crucial expansion projects were completed on time, adding capacity to service impending customer growth. Capability of the technology team was expanded and matured, and the organization is better positioned for new challenges in the coming year. Streamlined tools and processes increased efficiency and response time.