Custom Development Using A Standard Reference Architecture – The Best Of Both Worlds
For many of our customers, while commercial software packages can handle much of their day-to-day grunt work, unique business processes and requirements still call for custom development for the true value-add applications. But use the term ‘bespoke development’ in front of many CIOs and CFOs and they quail in fear, seeing a future of blown deadlines and escalating costs with no real value delivered. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way.
How We Reduce Costs And Waste By Aligning Testing With The SDLC
Testing can suck up a significant portion of the budget – in terms of money, time and resources - for any IT project. But if your testing regime isn’t fully lined up with your SDLC, that investment may not produce the high quality, on-time, on-budget results you expect. At Optimation, we work across the full SDLC so we take a holistic view of quality and outcomes. A common mistake we see is organisations over-investing in improvements to their testing practice in isolation from the SDLC, when in fact some of the biggest gains – in terms of reduced waste, improved costs and better business outcomes – may be found in in areas outside of testing’s direct control.
20 Years With Team Optimate
Over the past 20 years, we've done a huge amount of hard work to grow Optimation into one of New Zealand's most successful IT companies. But at the same time, we've also had a huge amount of fun! Join Team Optimate as we reflect on some of the quirkier moments from Optimation's history.
Business Analysts – Story-Tellers Or Story-Shapers?
One of the best and most satisfying parts of the business analysis process is the presentation of the analysis. As a very visual and conversational person, I like using diagrams and being the narrator, I like being able to take my readers and audience through a journey – starting from setting the scene (Current State), problem statement through to the light at the end of the tunnel (Desirable Future State). It’s pretty riveting stuff. It's always a challenge to be able to put together a compelling and effective presentation. But when all the stars align - awesome.
Celebrating 20 Years 2012: Big Data, BYOD And Barbador
On our journey through 20 years of technology memories, we’ve finally reached 2012. Tablets and smartphones are everywhere, and CIOs are getting to grips with the challenges of a bring-your-own-device world. 2012 is also predicted to be the year ‘big data’ reaches a tipping point, with advances such as quantum computing and the cloud make it possible to do interactive analysis on massive data sets in a scalable and cost-effective way. The possibilities are endless, from deep customer insights and social analytics to sophisticated proactive fraud detection and prevention.
Not Just A Job Anymore
For a long time Business Analysts struggled for professional recognition and I remember when I started off my career many people within the company I worked for did not have any idea as to what a business analyst was supposed to do let alone understand what value my role was supposed to bring to the organisation.
Celebrating 20 Years 2011: Microsoft Buys Skype And Optimation Boosts Leadership Team
Video calls were once the domain of futuristic films or incredibly expensive video-conferencing suites, but voice-over-IP brought cheap video calls to the masses. In 2011, Microsoft saw the way the VoIP wind was blowing and coughed up US$8.5 billion to buy Skype, making it the company’s biggest ever acquisition.
20th Anniversary Celebrations With Auckland Clients And Partners
Last Thursday night the scene was set for a great night of celebrations for Optimation's 20th Anniversary held at The Cloud, on Auckland's waterfront. Clients, partners and media had assembled to enjoy Optimation's hospitality, a word of thanks from our Founder and Chairman, Neil Butler and an inspiring address from Rod Oram, a frequent public speaker on business, economics, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. For more than a decade, Rod has been helping fast-growing New Zealand companies through his involvement with the ICEHOUSE and the entrepreneurship centre of Auckland's business school. He is passionate about driving innovative business in New Zealand and his address focused on an exciting new class of NZ companies emerging with similar hallmarks:
Celebrating 20 Years 2010: Mark Zuckerberg Is Time’s Person Of The Year And Optimation Signs A Major Outsourcing Contract
By 2010, social media had really gone mainstream. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year and even Hollywood got in on the act with the film The Social Network. It was also the year Apple’s iPad hit the market and businesses were quick to come up with some innovative ways to use the new format.
Celebrating 20 Years 2009: The Year Of The Cloud And Of A Major New Strategic Partnership For Optimation And HCL
2009 was the year that the cloud was suddenly everywhere and every IT executive worth his or her salt was trying to figure out what it meant and how they could make the most of it. Cloud computing seemed like a promising way to scale capacity and respond quickly to changing demands but it also raised new questions about data security and sovereignty. There was also a major new initiative afoot at Optimation as we announced our strategic partnership with HCL. The unique onshore/offshore model we developed gave large customers the flexibility, scale, and responsiveness they needed with the assurance of locally based governance and relationship management.
