http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php en jt@jtennent.co.uk Copyright 2008 2008-05-02T17:17:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_enables_npbs_to_recognise_the_combined_potential_for_agile_methods_a/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_enables_npbs_to_recognise_the_combined_potential_for_agile_methods_a/#When:17:17:00Z Norwich & Peterborough Building Society (N&P) is the UK’s thirteenth largest building society, with assets of over £4.3bn. Formed by the merger of the Norwich and Peterborough Building Societies in 1986, it has over 50 branches mainly located in East Anglia, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. N&P selected RADTAC to provide Consulting and Training Services to introduce Agile methods within their IT project lifecycle and processes. RADTAC Delivery Services RADTAC initially delivered a short “Agile Readiness Assessment” to N&P that identified, discussed and agreed the implications and the route to Agile at N&P. This enabled N&P to take a measured view when making their decision and to agree the way forward. RADTAC then provided experienced Agile Practitioners to work alongside N&P Business and IT personnel to provide Agile Training and Consulting and introduce Agile methods and new Microsoft technologies into the N&P delivery teams – enabling N&P to deliver additional benefit to the business. Moving from VB6 can be a challenge for any organisation and N&P addressed this by investing in Object-Oriented training for their developers, coupled with a further investment in the Microsoft .Net Framework. N&P also decided to employ RADTAC to introduce an Agile Project Delivery framework based on the Agile Unified Process (AUP), and RADTAC’s unique PragmaticAgileTM Services. Working together with RADTAC, N&P was able introduce Agile together with the new Microsoft tools and technologies and took the decision to standardise on the .Net3 framework for all new Agile developments. Microsoft .Net3 provides further improvements and many new frameworks, all designed to simplify the development process and further improve the speed of development. Agile methods enable consistent high quality delivery, on-time, to-spec and to-budget - and N&P recognised that applying these new frameworks would be a key factor in achieving their objective to migrate away from Visual Basic. Through a focussed engagement of tailored on-project training and workshops RADTAC introduced Agile methods appropriate to the N&P culture and business ethos. One of the key concepts introduced by RADTAC to N&P was the practice of Test Driven Development (TDD).  In this practice, requirements are defined as a series of tests that are agreed by the customer, the tester and the developer before coding is started. Microsoft’s .NET UI Automation framework provided the toolset that supported the introduction of TDD.  This powerful yet simple framework enabled the development of a Test Harness for N&P that was able to populate on-screen controls, press buttons and automate virtually any action that might be performed by a user. Summary Working closely together, RADTAC and N&P enabled N&P personnel to recognise the combined potential for Agile methods and Microsoft technologies, and enabled N&P personnel to swiftly become proficient and self-sufficient in their application. The pragmatic combination of RADTAC Agile Services and Training, alongside the Microsoft .NET3 framework has enabled N&P to build a firm foundation and introduce methods and technologies to further improve the quality of their applications delivery. N&P anticipates being able to further leverage the joint benefits of Agile with Microsoft technologies; and produce applications with rich, high quality, interactive user interfaces on-time, to-spec, within budget and of guaranteed quality. RADTAC Consulting Services: PragmaticAgile ~ Training and Workshops ~ AUP ~ TDD For further information please contact us at enquiries@radtac.co.uk 2008-05-02T17:17:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/standing_room_only_for_radtac_agile_maturity_presentation_at_nec/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/standing_room_only_for_radtac_agile_maturity_presentation_at_nec/#When:16:59:00Z RADTAC supported the Project Challenge Conference at the NEC in March for the third year in succession. Peter Measey - Operations Director of RADTAC - presented on the subject of “Agile Maturity Model and RADTAC Maturity Audit Services”, and once again it was standing room only for the 130+ attendees, followed by a very animated Q&A session that continued into the afternoon at the RADTAC stand. Using examples of real-world statistics from RADTAC clients, Peter outlined services from RADTAC that enable companies to review, revise and realign their project delivery delivery framework, practices and methods. RADTAC Services are based on real-world experience and delivered by highly experienced practitioners. The RADTAC Agile Maturity Audit enables companies to establish a baseline of the maturity and effectiveness of their current practices, to plan the Audit, interview key IT and business personnel, analyse the results, report back to management and recommend a planned course of action. For further information on the Agile Maturity Model and of RADTAC Audit Services, please contact us at enquiries@radtac.co.uk 2008-04-06T16:59:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/what_are_the_characteristics_of_an_agile_organisation/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/what_are_the_characteristics_of_an_agile_organisation/#When:18:12:00Z RADTAC was recently asked this question by a UK-based Global Telecoms Company. To provide objectivity to our answer we polled views and comments from a wide cross-section of Agile Practitioners, from within RADTAC and from the Agile Community as a whole. It quickly became obvious that there is no single easy answer to this question. In fact there are several answers, which perhaps in part depend on how the organisation wants to be perceived, from the inside and also from the outside. The resulting report is a precise of the responses received; with our thanks to all who contributed their time and opinions in pondering this question. For a free copy of the full report, please contact us at enquiries@radtac.co.uk 2008-02-01T18:12:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_provides_answer_to_customer_questions_on_agile_readiness1/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_provides_answer_to_customer_questions_on_agile_readiness1/#When:17:56:00Z Agile methods have reached maturity and are now on the Business Agenda of every forward thinking company.  However, RADTAC research from polling attendees at Agile Conferences and Seminars shows that uncertainties remain, and there are still some questions that companies are actively seeking to answer: •How do we start the move to Agile? •Are we ready? •Is Agile right for us? •How do we comply with existing processes? To help companies to answer these questions, RADTAC provides an “Agile Readiness Assessment” to assist smarter companies take the right first steps in a planned transition towards Agile, to identify the benefits that can be achieved, and how to achieve them.  RADTAC provides expertise in Agile methods, Project Management, Systems Development and Process Improvement.  RADTAC’s unique Agile Readiness Assessment is delivered as a client-specific discovery exercise. Working closely with the client for a focussed few days, RADTAC will discuss and understand their aspirations and objectives, and observe, analyse and interview business and technical personnel at all levels to assess these objectives – where appropriate, including the ability to introduce Agile alongside traditional methods and governance. The RADTAC assessment identifies and discusses the pragmatic combination of Agile and traditional methods that are appropriate for a potential transition.  The assessment identifies and addresses cultural, technical and practical barriers that may currently hinder particular activity, and seeks enablers that provide value to processes and that should be developed, leveraged and optimised. The cross section approach of the Agile Readiness Assessment enables RADTAC to apply the discovered information to produce a “gap analysis”; to identify where the client company is currently positioned, and where it aspires to be in terms of process development.  RADTAC’s level of expertise and knowledge enables an in-depth analysis and feedback on the practicalities, enablers and barriers to achieving the client’s desired objectives, as well as being able to provide proposals for the steps towards introducing Agile, and identifying potential benefits that may be achieved.  Within the Agile Readiness Assessment RADTAC also works with the client to identify and qualify candidate Agile Pilot Project(s) as part of the potential “first next steps” after the assessment. RADTAC believes that the value provided by this level of assessment and preparation answers the questions identified above, and provides a practical foundation for appropriate Agile methods to be introduced, and that can be evolved to a position where Agile becomes “business as usual” – where Agile methods are made to stick, and deliver repeatable benefit - at which time the client becomes self-sufficient and able to support their own ongoing Agile transformation. “The Agile Readiness Assessment is aimed at advising organisations that are interested in Agile methods and are unsure how it will work for them or where to begin.  With our concise, in-depth and client-specific analysis, an organisation can make an informed decision on the potential and future of Agile for their organisation, and then plan and act accordingly. This provides a foundation for them to build on and to make Agile practices and benefits stick within their organisation,” explains Les Oliver, Director of Business Development at RADTAC. 2007-11-15T17:56:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_agile_transformation_services_at_norwich_and_peterborough_building_s/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_agile_transformation_services_at_norwich_and_peterborough_building_s/#When:16:15:00Z Norwich and Peterborough Building Society has selected RADTAC to provide Consulting and Training Services to introduce Agile methods within NPBS’s IT project lifecycle and processes. Richard Kent, Head of IT Solutions for Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P) said “At N&P, IT has a good track record of delivering successful projects to our business. We want to ensure that we maintain that quality and stay ahead of the game.” RADTAC is providing a small team of experienced Agile Practitioners to work alongside N&P Business and IT personnel to provide Agile Training and Consulting - to introduce Agile alongside the existing N&P project lifecycle and processes, and enable N&P to deliver Agile-based projects to their business. Jenine Thorne is Head of Project Management and QA for IT Solutions at N&P. Jenine says “After careful evaluation we chose to work with RADTAC because they offered a pragmatic approach that enables us to understand and introduce Agile methods that work within the practical realities of our existing project delivery processes.” RADTAC initially delivered a short “Agile Readiness Assessment” to N&P that identified, discussed and agreed the implications and the route to Agile at N&P. This enabled N&P to take a measured view when making their decision and to agree the way forward. Norwich and Peterborough Building Society is the fourteenth largest building society in the UK, with assets of over £3.7bn. It was formed by the merger of the Norwich and Peterborough Building Societies in 1986, and has over 50 branch offices mainly located in East Anglia, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire.  The Society also has a branch in Gibraltar which opened in 1990. The Society employs around 1,000 staff, of whom 400 are based at its principle office in Peterborough. www.npbs.co.uk RADTAC is expert in working with smarter companies to deliver successful IT transformation. To enable our clients to transform their IT capabilities, we provide a comprehensive range of services in the key areas of IT that are needed by the smarter business of today - and of tomorrow. www.radtac.co.uk 2007-10-19T16:15:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/po_ferries_select_radtac_to_provide_agile_maturity_audit_services/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/po_ferries_select_radtac_to_provide_agile_maturity_audit_services/#When:18:30:00Z P&O Ferries has selected RADTAC to provide Consulting Services for an Agile Maturity Audit. Darren Wilmshurst, Head of Information Systems for P&O Ferries said “We had embarked on a programme to move towards Agile at P&O, and after the first 12 months or so I wanted to measure our progress against others in the industry, and ensure that we had built a firm foundation.” “We worked with RADTAC at the start of the process and so I asked them back to work with us again. RADTAC provided the maturity of experience and the open-mindedness to review what we have done, identify enablers and barriers, and make proposals in areas that needed attention and work to help us to move forward. It has been a short, intensive engagement that has involved both business and IT, and has enabled us to plan for our further adoption of Agile at P&O Ferries.” P&O Ferries carries more than ten million passengers a year on routes to France, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Ireland.  The company’s fleet of 27 ships ranges from some of the largest cruise ferries in the world to dedicated freighters that move the trucks and containers that carry the trade of the nation.  www.poferries.com RADTAC is expert in working with smarter companies to deliver successful IT transformation. To enable our clients to transform their IT capabilities, we provide a comprehensive range of services in the key areas of IT that are needed by the smarter business of today - and of tomorrow. http://www.radtac.co.uk 2007-10-17T18:30:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_expands/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_expands/#When:17:36:00Z RADTAC has added to its team of experts with Steve Bennett joining the company as Business Development Manager. Steve brings a track record of success and his considerable experience of Project Management, delivery and business development to complex organisations, and comes to RADTAC via Oracle, EMC and Morse. Steve says, “I join RADTAC at perhaps the most exciting time in the company’s 10 year history.  RADTAC is at the forefront in transforming the abilities of business and IT to deliver successful projects - my personal track record is in working with customers to introduce and help them adopt new concepts and ideas which are innovative yet pragmatic, and that deliver tangible business benefit.  RADTAC offered me the opportunity to work in an innovative, exciting and dynamic field of expertise, and to build on their recognised ability to deliver a step change in the way projects are delivered. It’s good to be here.” Les Oliver is the Business Development Director at RADTAC, “I’ve known Steve for many years and I’m particularly pleased that he has joined us. I look forward to working together to grow our client base, and the services that we deliver.” 2007-10-05T17:36:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/standing_room_only_at_abc_for_radtac_presentation/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/standing_room_only_at_abc_for_radtac_presentation/#When:16:26:00Z It was standing room only at the Agile Business Conference when some 150 plus delegates crowded in to the RADTAC Case Study with Profund Jardine Lloyd Thompson entitled “When Worlds Collide – Agile in a non-Agile World”. David Hicks of RADTAC co-presented with Martin Freeman, Head of Development at Profund; outlining how Profund worked with RADTAC to introduce Agile to their software development project teams – and the real-world issues, problems, successes and benefits experienced by Profund in their journey towards smarter business. Profund is part of the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, and specialists in the development and implementation of pension administration and payroll systems for in-house schemes, third-party administrators, and Life Offices pension administration. Profund selected RADTAC to work with them to reappraise and redirect their project management and delivery processes. Profund has a full and growing portfolio of projects to manage, develop and deliver and with this the need to ensure that they optimise their ability to deliver high quality, high value systems to their client base. RADTAC has supported the Agile Business Conference since the inception of the conference in 2004. This Case Study will also be presented on the 25th October, at the Butler Group Agile Software Development Strategy Briefing (http://www.butlergroup.com) 2007-10-05T16:26:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_refreshes_services_and_abc_attendees/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/radtac_refreshes_services_and_abc_attendees/#When:07:24:00Z As we approach our 10th Anniversary, RADTAC has taken the opportunity to refresh how we present ourselves to the world - using ABC2007 to showcase the re-branding of our established Consulting, Training and Delivery Services; for Agile, Project Management, Systems Development and Process Improvement. “This rebranding is to better represent the real breadth of services and expertise that we have been delivering to our customers for many years now, and to make people aware of our track record in these areas.” said Peter Measey, RADTAC Delivery Director. To coincide with this activity; RADTAC is very pleased to have been the subject of a recent Butler Group report, which opens with the following paragraph: “RADTAC is a software services company offering: delivery services; consulting and training in Project Management; Systems Development; Process Improvement; and Agile Methods. In the Agile Methods space RADTAC’s offering is based around its PragmaticAgileTM model which aims to help organisations transform their software development practices in an evolutionary and pragmatic manner, rather than being revolutionary or prescriptive. The methodologies that RADTAC can offer range across all the leading Agile practices: Scrum; XP; Lean; Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) Atern; RUP; and others. It has an emphasis on full Project Lifecycle Management, and to this end it employs appropriate Agile practices within a wider agile project management framework (based on local practices or methods such as PRINCE2 or PMI) according to the needs of the organisation. In Butler Group’s opinion, RADTAC should be considered as a mentor for medium-to-large organisations that seek to adopt Agile practices and who lack their own in-house expertise, whether this be in Agile methods or the Organisational Transformation approaches required for its successful adoption and sustained use.” Butler Group Ref Code: TA001338ADT Publication, September 2007 - Author: Michael Azoff Please come and see our Client Case Study presentation on Tuesday morning, visit our Stand to learn more, and then join us for refreshments at 5.30pm when we are sponsoring the ABC Drinks Reception. Further information RADTAC Abbey House, 25 Clarendon Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QZ Tel: +44 (0) 1737 852 121 Email: enquiries@radtac.co.uk Website: http://www.radtac.co.uk 2007-09-28T07:24:00+00:00 http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/butler_group_recommend_radtac_ipragmatic_iagile/ http://www.radtac.co.uk/index.php/about_us/article/butler_group_recommend_radtac_ipragmatic_iagile/#When:07:55:00Z “the company’s strong track record in industry and the public sector, marks it out in the field and should be placed on a consulting short list.” Butler Group has published a Technology Audit report after in-depth analysis of RADTAC’s PragmaticAgile approach. Its key findings include: RADTAC offers a range of Agile development practices designed to fit client needs. RADTAC has particular strength in full project lifecycle management. RADTAC’s business manpower structure ensures availability of high-calibre consultants. RADTAC can offer accreditation in Scrum, PRINCE2, and DSDM / Atern as well as non-accredited courses. RADTAC has considerable experience built up in large-scale Agile projects. Read full report here (885k pdf) 2007-09-24T07:55:00+00:00