A Case for Independent Technical Delivery Management
Why Don't We Let Our Children Mark Their Own Exams?
When it comes to education, we inherently understand the importance of independent assessment. Quick classroom quizzes might be self-marked, and friendly pub competitions peer-reviewed, but when the stakes are high – like with professional qualifications or university admissions – we invariably turn to independent examiners.
This principle, so obvious in education, holds valuable lessons for how organisations should approach their mission-critical IT projects.
Throughout our engagements at Refractis, we've observed a consistent pattern: the most successful technical transformations benefit from independent oversight. While our primary focus is delivering business-critical technical solutions, our role as an independent intermediary often proves equally valuable.
The Challenge of Internal Delivery
Consider your typical Head of IT Operations – undoubtedly a skilled professional with deep institutional knowledge – but asking them to manage a major transformation project while maintaining day-to-day operations creates an impossible balancing act.
Critical initiatives require dedicated focus and specialised expertise that differs from operational excellence. When BAU responsibilities compete with project delivery, something inevitably gives.
The System Integrator Dilemma
Alternatively, organisations often default to having their System Integrator (SI) or outsourcing partner manage the programme. This is where our exam marking analogy becomes particularly relevant. Would you let students grade their own exams?
The fundamental challenge isn't competence – it's alignment of interests.
Programme managers from SIs face inherent conflicts: they must balance their employer's profit margins, resource allocation across multiple clients, and their own career advancement within their organisation. While they may be highly capable, their incentives don't always align perfectly with your project's success criteria.
The Third Way: Independent Technical Partnership
This is where specialised technical consultancies like Refractis offer a compelling alternative. We function as client-side delivery leads, whether managing a single large SI or orchestrating multiple suppliers. Our independence allows us to focus solely on your priorities and needs, rather than being constrained by competing organisational imperatives.
Some might baulk at the premium commanded by independent technical consultants. As one industry veteran aptly noted, "If you think it's expensive hiring a professional, imagine how expensive it turns out to be hiring an amateur." This wisdom particularly resonates in technical delivery, where the cost of failure or delay can dwarf the investment in proper oversight.
Why Independence Creates Value
Cross-industry expertise gained from diverse client engagements keeps our delivery approach fresh and innovative. We combine deep technical knowledge with proven delivery experience – an increasingly rare combination in an era of specialised roles and offshore development.
Having worked extensively with major System Integrators and offshore pure-play providers, we understand their strengths and limitations intimately. This allows us to maximise their value while implementing compensating controls where needed.
Perhaps most importantly, our success is measured solely by your project's success. We have no other competing priorities or hidden agendas.
The Safety Net
Even for organisations that choose different delivery approaches initially, we can help with reviews or project turnaround and recovery. Like having an independent examiner review contested grades, sometimes an external perspective is exactly what's needed to get things back on track.
Just as we wouldn't entrust critical academic assessments to self-marking, organisations should carefully consider who oversees their most important technical initiatives. The principle of independent oversight, proven in education, translates remarkably well to technical delivery. In an era where digital transformation can make or break businesses, ensuring proper governance and delivery management isn't just good practice – it's essential for survival.
Final Thought
Don’t worry if you chose someone else to deliver your current critical project: Refractis also do turnarounds!