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CASE STUDY

Keys to success

MetLife: Project Portfolio Management

The Client

In early 2006, MetLife sought ways to improve its ability to track and manage its many IT projects.  MetLife conducted a review of three Project Portfolio - project accounting software packages (PeopleSoft, Mercury, and Clarity) to determine the best solution to meet their needs.

AMC’s Role

AMC Infomediaries led the PeopleSoft ESA/EPM "proof of concept" team to demonstrate the fit of PeopleSoft capabilities to MetLife requirements.  Key functional areas included:

• management dashboards with drilldown capabilities
• linking strategic plans to projects and programs
• project and program budgeting, forecasting and tracking
• project time entry, project accounting, program and project management tools
• project / program reporting

Key technical areas included:

• PeopleSoft upgrade methodology
• how customizations can impact upgrades
• options for reporting tools
• use of the EPM data warehouse
• reviewing delivered workflow and how workflow customizations are done
• information integration using PeopleSoft, including web services, component interface, integration broker, and portal
• briefing MetLife on upcoming product support and the roadmap to fusion.

Key Objectives for MetLife

The key objectives of the pilot were to:

1. demonstrate how the PeopleSoft ESA/EPM-IT solution compared to the other Project Portfolio management software
2. obtain a good basis for cost estimation for the solutions
3. provide a long term solution for linking and consolidating enterprise systems
4. enhance the current project costing/management process.

Methodology

AMC worked with both PeopleSoft Consulting and Sales, and with Drivestream staff to conduct functional area reviews for MetLife's IT Project Management, Program Management, and accounting teams.

Lessons Learned

1. Gaps can occur between project objectives and the project requirements: the use of a web-based toolset can greatly facilitate internal communications, project planning and analysis, from scoping through fitgap to execution.
2. In achieving an enterprise solution that requires a high level of change, take incremental steps.

Contact: Mike Castronovo, Atlanta