ODI
The Overseas Development Institute is a leading independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues. The ODI’s mission is to inspire and inform policy and practice which lead to the reduction of poverty, the alleviation of suffering and the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in developing countries.
Integrated information is vital to the ODI’s work and, early in 2007, the Institute established a project to improve efficiency and effectiveness by joining up the various business information systems across the organisation. In November 2008 the Institute engaged Sayer Vincent to review progress in the project, to clarify the options available and to recommend the next steps.
Our approach to the review was designed to build on the work that had already been carried out but also to ensure that any new systems would be able to deliver clear business benefits to the organisation. Our first step was to initiate a series of discussions and workshops with key stakeholders. Those sessions identified the main information systems issues facing the Institute and the benefits which the organisation could expect from any further investment of time and money.
The main outcome from our work was a practical evaluation of the strategic options for systems development at the ODI. However, our benefits-based approach ensured that the rationale for the project and for the associated investment was fully understood by the Institute’s senior managers and that it was properly positioned as part of a larger programme of organisational change.
In 2009, the ODI board gave outline approval to the recommendations and to the next stages in the project. Since then we have been working with senior managers and staff to develop the detailed systems requirements and to prepare the governance framework for implementation.
"Sayer Vincent’s work really helped us to pull the different threads we had been working on together into a coherent plan. We now have a fully developed requirements specification for a new integrated system, which we’re about to put out to tender. While we’re doing most of the work ourselves it is enormously reassuring to have Sayer Vincent advice and support.".
John Young, Director of Programmes, ODI