Cadbury Schweppesis rolling out a
strategy to reduce the risks major IT projects pose to the business
by creating a library of reusable software components.
The confectionary and drinks maker has established a
company-wide standard, known as an enterprise architecture, that
will ensure that IT components are re-used across software
systems.
Cadbury Schweppes developed the strategy following difficulties
with large IT projects, including the implementation of a global
SAP system in 2004. Two years later, the company blamed
problems with the SAP implementation for a £12m loss in its UK
business.
Cadbury Schweppes said the aims of the strategy were to improve
the way IT delivers projects to the business, to reduce the risks
associated with large roll-outs, and to enable the business to
adapt more easily and quickly to change.
It is developing a scorecard to measure how the enterprise
architecture, due to come into use next year, will reduce the cost
of delivering IT projects.
"Our aim is to derive solid business value," said Sadie Legard,
global director, enterprise architecture at Cadbury Schweppes. "We
can move IT from being a support function to a trusted partner in
the business."
Cadbury Schweppes has made its enterprise architecture mandatory
across the company, which is preparing to de-merge into separate
beverage and confectionary divisions.
Each IT project is put through a six-stage review - covering
definition of the initial idea, refinement, development,
validation, refinement and implementation - to assess the project's
compliance with the
enterprise architecture.
Last week, company chairman John Sunderland stepped down
following a meeting with shareholders about the company's
performance. The company has also announced job cuts of 15% of its
IT workforce.
Advice on implementing an enterprise architecture
● Manage the institutionalisation - rolling out enterprise
architecture is just like other change programmes
● Link benefits to business objectives that are real and
relevant
● Form a powerful coalition of supporters in the business
● Communicate wherever and whenever you can, and keep it
snappy
● Plan for the long-term, but look out for short-term wins
● Demonstrate how investing in enterprise architecture creates
value.
Source: Cadbury Schweppes