Make IT Simple

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and director of a leadership consultancy that focuses on leadership, performance, innovation, and strategy. I work globally to advise senior teams on those matters.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Make IT Simple?

I’ve been writing a book on leadership for a number of years and have a leadership model on which the book is based. I designed a leadership psychometric called LEAP that’s based on my model. They were brought on to build out that psychometric so I could generate business on that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created an online facility to market and sell my concept. I designed a psychometric with all of the algorithms needed to provide an individual the ability to target spending surrounding leadership development. For instance, they could target potential future leaders of global companies and develop traits as needed.

Users could input answers and be provided with a report on their leadership participants that detailed their overall abilities. It also gave pictorial examples and developmental tools. I handled the algorithm and design, but they did all the IT to get the product to function. They came up with ideas throughout the process that guided the development. 

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Andy (Founder). However, I also had a few project managers that I kept in contact with.  

How did you come to work with Make IT Simple?

My office manager worked with them while at a different company. He understood the HR world, so he had a solid grasp of competency frameworks and topics of that nature. It seemed like he’d be complementary to our business because it looked like a quality company. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $40,000 on the project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2015–2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We did tests with individuals, and they thought that the system was strong and easy to use. It fulfilled all the legal requirements and looked good. The product was very well-received. This could potentially be an entirely different business for me.   

How did Make IT Simple perform from a project management standpoint?

They were adaptive around my needs and candid about how they approached their work. I was impressed with their understanding of the business and the ability to perform to a general timeframe. The design work stalled a few times, but I expected something like that given the unique quality of this project. It was an interactive process, and they were nicely reactive to me. They didn’t overcharge us, living up to the price they originally charged me.    

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were highly adaptive and creative, making active suggestions to contribute to the process. Even when part of the project was my failing, they adapted to need our needs. I appreciated that.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

On my end, I should’ve taken the product to market more quickly. That’s not a negative comment for their team, though. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know precisely what you want, sorting out features in the beginning. They were accomodating for changes, but there’s a limit to that because they have a business to run as well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a healthcare agency that supplies nurses, doctors, and care workers to the NHS. I'm the managing director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Make IT Simple?

We wanted to develop our own software to manage our workforce.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They fully developed software that became our proprietary platform. We scoped numerous possible software options, but none offered us the visibility and control we developed with Make IT Simple. We agreed on the specifications for the project, and they started working after several face-to-face meetings. The platform acts as a portal for agencies and the NHS. Workers can submit details, CVs, and other documents, and we check with a variety of organizations to make sure everyone complies with the correct validation processes.

What is the team composition?

We had three main contacts during the projects, including an operations director, a technical director, and a COO. They made sure the project came in on budget.

How did you come to work with Make IT Simple?

We initially met them after a recommendation. We invited them to our offices and were impressed by their approach. We got along with them very well, and decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

The whole project came to about £675,000 (approximately $830,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The initial discussions started in November 2014. We kicked off the project in May 2015 and completed it within about two years. That was longer than we planned, but that was due to internal changes on our side.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We're very happy with the product, and we've taken it to market. Due to government restrictions, we missed a deadline initially. We're just at the point where we can retender for that process and get the software onto national frameworks. We expect that will make a major difference. The software is currently in use, and we're more than pleased. We'll use Make IT Simple again for future development.

How did Make IT Simple perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent project managers, and they worked hard to understand the specifications before they moved into development. They asked important questions to make sure we got what we wanted. I'm really pleased with how the project was managed and with all the outcomes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We really depended on them to take control of the project. They walked us through every stage and were always available. The amount of research they did into our sector was crucial, and they had a genuine interest in how the software would make a difference. They were keen to help us meet our long-term goals, and we were impressed with them throughout the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there's nothing they should improve. Any delays the project faced came from our side. They delivered within our budget, and they were good to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Help them understand the end user and the important goals of your project. They're interested in their clients' success, so answer their questions to give them the best idea of what you want.