Why Create BusReq

As an experienced Consultant Michael Ryan was interested in the root cause of why so many Transformation Programs, particularly those involving ERP implementations, would be delivered late or over budget. According to the Oxford Business School as many as 95% of major change programs are delivered late or over budget. This is a shocking statistic and one which requires deeper analysis.

Michael and colleague Mark Saywell sat down to analyse their experiences over 25 years on major change programs and determine the common factors which drove success. These critical success factors naturally had a flip side and when not addressed early in the program would cause a knock on impact in latter Stages. The conclusion they reached based on their own experience was that ineffective Business Requirements, especially where 3rd Party Solution Providers were involved, has lasting repercussions on program delivery.

As all major Finance Transformation programs involve adopting a new Operating Model which could be Shared Services, Global Business Services, Business Process Outsourcing or a Centre of Excellence, coupled with an ERP upgrade, they always involved multiple 3rd Parties. The challenge for every Business and their CFO was how to manage multiple Providers all of whom would treat the Business as the ‘Client’.

The Client relationship is different to an internal management relationship and ensuring that all eventualities are considered is where the Business Requirements are critical to success. This becomes even more challenging when multiple Providers are involved. The majority of Finance teams are not trained to manage such relationships and may in most cases be experiencing their first Transformation program.

It is therefore critical that the CFO and their team are equipped with a robust and effective set of Business Requirements to act as the cornerstone of all Program decision making and contract negotiations with the 3rd Party Providers.

In short our recommendation is ‘to know your own Business inside out or prepare to fail’. This is where our experience can help you define effective and robust Business Requirements to drive the success of your Program.