The Process That Delivers a Relevant Solution
Before any solution is provided, Triple Helix conducts a brief Phase 0 review. This review allows us to accurately and mutually define what a client needs before any work on a solution gets started. This greatly reduces the risk of starting down the wrong path and allows clients to control budgets and measure outcomes more easily.
We look at what you do and how you do it, what data you collect, how you use it and how it impacts your business. We assess where opportunities exist to make improvements, we focus on three main areas: executive, operations, and administrative.
Most companies have a rough idea of where their challenges exist, but the Phase 0 approach allows for identifying the key “gaps” in the business and ensures that the recommended improvements avoid the need for a costly replacement of existing systems. The output of Phase 0 is a plan for executing these improvements.
Agreeing on the Need and the Solution
The Phase 0 analysis is a limited engagement where, over several meetings, we interview key stakeholders, evaluate technical details, and shadow primary users of the existing process or processes to understand shortcomings from their perspective. The questions we ask during Phase 0 include:
Feasibility: Does a developed solution actually do what the client needs? Does available technology allow for it? Is the desired combination of functionality, affordability, and design possible?
Requirements: Have requirements been sufficiently described by all key stakeholders, including the end users? Are they captured in a well-defined manner?
Architecture: How will the solution be developed? What are the technology options? Is an off-the-shelf software available and cost-effective, or does custom development better address requirements?
Program Planning: In what order will activities be organized? How much of the work may be done in parallel? Who will do what (Triple Helix, other 3rd parties, the client themselves)?
Proof of Concept: Is there a need to build a prototype to prove that functionality will work as intended? Is there anything we need to see working in “real-life” to properly gauge its effectiveness?
The final deliverable is a summary of our findings and recommendations for moving forward to a Phase 1 development effort (and beyond). This includes a detailed schedule and cost estimate. The intent is a well-defined plan that the client may use whether or not Triple Helix is contracted to develop past Phase 0.