AMS has compiled nearly two decades of experience with our client organizations enabling us to draw upon these experiences when creating new solutions.  The Project Briefings below represent a cross section sampling of our past experience; please contact an AMS representative for more information. Correlating information can be found on our articles and testimonials pages.

Solution Suite: Assessment Tools.

Project Description: Develop an engagement survey as part of a Talent Management effort.

Challenge: When a leading rehabilitation/long term care provider was challenged with issues relative to high rates of employee turnover, they called Advanced Management Services, Inc. (AMS).  In order to accomplish strategic objectives in the midst of a talent market that was shrinking due to economic factors, the organization was faced with the need to look inward and ensure proper steps were made to improve employee retention rates. 

Solution: Working in collaboration with the client's senior management team, AMS leveraged existing engagement surveys to create a custom assessment tool that was in direct alignment with the needs of the organization.  Utilizing front end activities such as one-on-one interviews, focus groups and reviews of performance data, the AMS Consulting team was able to target the survey process in a way that made company employees feel comfortable and become more participatory in the process. Surveys designed to measure employee engagement were administered to thousands of employees throughout the United States.  Concentration was given to measurement of job satisfaction, intention to stay with the company and willingness to recommend the company as a “great-place” to work.  Analyses of survey results included qualification of “the level of satisfaction and engagement” of staff.

Benefits: The process created a baseline that was used to increase profitability by optimizing engagement; reducing turnover; and concurrently improving operational efficiency and effectiveness.  The results of this survey were further used to align operational thrusts with the strategic vision so that activities designed to improve engagements became more widespread throughout the organization.   

Solution Suite: Assessment Tools.

Project Description: Create business infrastructure, process, best practice and competency maps related to a sales cycle and methodology. 

Challenge: The client recognized the need to build an infrastructure to support its growth; they employed the services of Advanced Management Services, Inc. (AMS) to accomplish their goals.  During the partnership with AMS this organization was able to create corporate processes to support daily sales activity and stabilize performance.  Additionally, the company needed to assess and develop the core sales team to align with a “solutions selling” environment.

Solution: AMS created a baseline assessment to gather data about the organization’s operations and sales support capacity.  This assessment tool was used in various ways and with different levels of the organization to define gaps associated with the people, processes and technology that were driving the organization. The results of the assessment were stratified to create a report for management that illustrated the gaps in performance.  Additionally, AMS gathered data from like-size firms, industry standards and expectations from the company’s core manufacturers.  This external data set was then synthesized with the internal goals to create a multi-dimensional view of the organization’s core ability to perform against best practice.  Once AMS was able to define the gaps in the organization’s key operating standards the team set out to create new processes that would help them accomplish heightened proficiency.  Once the business model was complete, AMS developed a change strategy that included internal communication documents to ease the minds of the sales force, created competency maps for internal and external training, and designed a baseline technology road map to help the company select the right vendor to install a CRM program.  The training was customized around the AMS Bridge Selling methodology and was fully integrated with the company’s strategic goals.  AMS extended their engagement to assist with the implementation of the new business model via a shared workforce team model.  This allowed the company to benefit from consultation and direction while guiding most of the work internally. 

Benefits: This organization recognized a remarkable 40% growth rate and an increase in market share of over 15%. The firm was also awarded two multimillion dollar representation accounts based on their ability to manage the infrastructure required for such high profile brands. The organization prospered and grew to a point it was recognized by larger companies that eventually resulted in a sale of the company allowing ownership and staff to benefit from stock options and rewards that were always part of the strategic plan.

Solution Suite: Business Analysis.

Project Description: Create process and learning events to establish best practice and competence.    

Challenge: The organization was seeking to gain project efficiencies by adopting a formal business analyst function to liaison between information technology and the business community. 

Solution: AMS created custom learning to help the organization emphasize the synergies and identify the delimitation between systems analysis and business analysis.  The custom curriculum was designed with consideration to the learning culture, as well as industry best practices and standards.  Correlating scorecards were developed so that the organization could continually measure direct business impact from the training. 

Benefits: The client was able to successfully roll-out business analysis programs across the enterprise.  Significant gains were observed through reduced rework as a result of clearer requirements on a tactical level.  At a strategic level, business decisions were enhanced by an increased level of alignment in the project selection process and at various stage gates in the integrated BA/PM methodology ensuring that the project portfolio maintains maximum alignment with the strategic planning efforts. 

Solution Suite: Business Analysis.

Project Description: Business Analysis practices development and oversight for offshore teams in Bosnia.

Challenge: The Client was in need of a process to control the development of software via off shore teams.  In this scenario the client wanted to assign a third party to ensure the quality and security specifications were being met by the Bosnian team.

Solution: AMS created a standard matrix for evaluation of the Software Design Lifecycle (SDLC).  Within this process the AMS team defined stage gates and quality specifications based on the area of the lifecycle.  This allowed the team in Bosnia to interact with the client effectively as well as giving the third party management team a clear picture of the overall project. The general solution was crafted against Business Analyst Best Practice and represented a re-usable solution for the client and third party vendor.

Benefits: The client and the third party benefited by having a clearly defined process, lifecycle and set of expectations.  The project ran ahead of schedule and under budget.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Aligning a strategic plan.

Challenge: The client was challenged with aligning their strategic plan to operation and tactical initiatives.

Solution: By partnering with the Advanced Management Services, Inc. team, they successfully recognized the objectives that were required to accomplish their business goals.

Benefits: The total reorganization effort proved successful by enhancing the organization’s ability to manage change and, in turn, capitalize on market opportunities more effectively.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Building an Infrastructure.

Challenge: The organization recognized the need to build an infrastructure to support its growth.

Solution: Utilizing AMS, Inc. this organization was able to create corporate process to support daily sales activity and stabilize their performance.

Benefits: Upon implementation of the Advanced Management Services, Inc. designed infrastructure, this organization recognized a remarkable 40% growth rate and an increase in market share of over 15%.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Business Process and Best Practice Development, map, define gaps and then create best practice standards for the development, marketing and support of three nationally branded video game titles. Implement the change via focus groups and training events strategically aligned with organizational goals.

Challenge: The client needed to maximize the return on development dollars via a sound marketing strategy and version control cycle, while maintaining quality and flexibility in their branded products.  They recognized this goal could not be met unless IT and Business groups were brought together when crafting the solution.  The collaboration of creative and business minded teams was a challenge within itself; as with many organizations, silos persisted.

Solution: AMS partnered with the firm’s management team to assess the current standards both from an operational and tactical perspective.  AMS was able to identify gaps within the quality management standards as well as the operational practices that supported the products’ end user.  Additionally, the AMS team worked to build processes that would drive collaboration by designing a stage gated decision matrix that relied on “Quality Function Deployment” (QFD) techniques.  This approach allowed the teams to immediately recognize the voice of both internal and external customers.  The QFD or “House of Quality” practices were then married with standard Business Analysis practices to ensure there was full communication between all areas of the organization and its customers’ needs/wants. The findings report AMS created after launching the new job functions and identifying performance gaps was used as a baseline to create an operational model that was ultimately tested within a pilot group responsible for one branded line.  The pilot team was aligned to the new practices, communication protocols and quality checks as well as taking part in customized training focused on service and quality management.  Several key success factors such as customer satisfaction, market placement, sales and end user support calls were measured over a specified time frame.  The results of those performance measurements were set against the model and legacy practices.  AMS worked with the team to refine what is now an internalized set of best practices for development, marketing and support of all product lines based on the bridges built over the gaps.  The best practice improvements were rolled out organizationally and applied to the other lines of business.  Several key members of the management team were trained in quality based practices to foster the customer focused mind set, as well as initiating continuous improvement opportunities.

Benefits: This client realized significant reduction in turn-over, increased productivity that led to accelerated product development and heightened levels of client satisfaction.  The enhanced human resource benefit was clearly recognized by existing staff and prospective candidates.  The firm was able to better assess business and human capital performance, retain employees and hire the best personnel by leveraging the aspects of their new operational standards.  Additionally, the firm realized market growth due to improvements in productivity and a reduction in re-training time.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Refining internal Continuous Quality Initiative.

Challenge: The organization saw the need to refine its internal Continuous Quality Initiative (CQI) process.

Solution: Advanced Management Services, Inc helped establish a learning program to better communicate the objectives. AMS consultants designed and developed a program that built on associates' suggestions to improve the internal service level.

Benefits: This led to greater levels of quality and, in turn, increased user satisfaction.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Managing a major customer implementation.

Challenge: The organization required assistance establishing procedures for managing a major customer implementation.

Solution: AMS consultants worked with them to develop a process that ensured a methodical, practical approach to the implementation.

Benefits: This process reduced implementation time, enhanced client relations, and has been adapted for other customer implementations nationwide.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Implement a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Initiative.

Challenge: The organization was seeking to implement a robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) initiative.

Solution: AMS consultants developed a unique learning model that captured key customer concepts as they related to the organization in alignment with industry best practice.

Benefits: Just one month after the program's completion, the organization was seeing a marked improvement.  Their internal processes are improving as well, as their internal customers become introduced and bought into the concepts of CRM.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Create a complete project plan to manage, oversee and measure an international business conference.

Challenge: The client was seeking direction on managing a conference to support their Corporate Education Centers direct involvement in the Project Management industry.  This event would host over 3000 attendees, 80 presenters and 250 exhibitors spread across 3 days. The client needed best practices, coordination, vendor management and on-site event support.

Solution: AMS created a “total” project plan for the event, including operational procedures to assist with implementation.  The AMS team also managed the oversight of event staff and customer interactions with vendors, speakers and exhibitors.  Additionally, the AMS team coordinated all track sessions and call for papers procedures. 

Benefits: The client's conference was a success both financially and industry wise.  The program was run utilizing the established best practices for four consecutive years and was then sold to one of the largest conference management companies in the world.  This sale allowed the university to recognize real profit and keep their branding as part of the conference for a predetermined time frame. 

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Management and restructuring.

Challenge: The organization required management and restructuring services to build the infrastructure that would accommodate their members' needs.

Solution: AMS accepted the responsibility of designing all operational functions and then to execute daily functionality through the terms of a management contract.

Benefits: Since the partnership began, the association has realized continued growth and financial stability.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Assistance in the integration of a New Product Development process (NPD).

Challenge: The organization required assistance with the integration of their complex New Product Development Process (NPDP) and a consistent enterprise-wide approach to Program and Project Management.

Solution: AMS conducted a thorough multi-level review of the entire NPD process as well as defining Program/Project Management processes and standards, and assisting the organization in developing a Program Management Office to coordinate the intricate and complex design and manufacturing tasks within constrained schedules and zero-defect quality adherence. AMS also developed a Project Management training platform for the organization’s resources and the organization’s proficiency within a PM methodology environment.

Benefits: As a result, standard process has spread to other project types within the organization, resulting in a corporate wide initiative to implement PM best practice.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Focus on growth and promote excellence.

Challenge: The organization wanted to create operational procedures to focus their growth and promote excellence within the system.

Solution: AMS provided system-wide reengineering advice rendering a set of daily operating standards. These standards are utilized to measure corporate, vendor and franchise business accuracy against best practice principles.

Benefits: Since the implementation, this chain has recognized growth equal to three units opening per week, and forecasts call for this to continue.  Franchisee turnover has been reduced significantly, customer satisfaction has escalated and employee retention goals have been met.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Prepare executives for the future.

Challenge: The organization recognized the need to prepare executives for the future.

Solution: Advanced Management Services, Inc. consultants developed a unique learning model that captured future business concepts and back-dropped them against the current best practice and style.

Benefits: The program saw immediate results for the company as important ideas were implemented and morale increased.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Getting back on track quickly and more effectively.

Challenge: The organization was stalled on an organization wide project.

Solution: AMS consultants quickly provided mentoring and direction to the team moving them towards results. This was performed as an Organizational Development intervention driven by an organizational psychologist.

Benefits: As a result the organization began to reorganize and produce deliverables closing with a successful result more efficiently. The culture improved, morale was raised and, ultimately, productivity was enhanced.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Receive quality and project management education.

Challenge: The organization was seeking to receive quality and project management education.

Solution: AMS consultants delivered several platforms addressing this client's needs quickly and efficiently.

Benefits: The results were measured by breakthrough on a prior bottlenecked project, costing the organization in lost revenue. By implementing several tools and suggestions presented by Advanced Management Services, Inc. the division was able to produce the deliverables required by the project and come to successful completion.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Building on an already existing quality program.

Challenge: The organization needed to build on their quality program.

Solution: AMS consultants studied their culture and current learning model to establish a supervisory training platform.

Benefits: Delivery of this training platform to all supervisory staff led to increased productivity and participation, in turn helping the company raise their customer satisfaction index to the highest levels in history.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Create a sales management dashboard and back house process to complement it. Also, design the infrastructure to leverage sales data at the management level to increase productivity and enhance competency.

Challenge: The client was in need of a sales management structure that would allow for real time data collection from sales performance metrics, and then help regional sales managers to translate that data into usable information.  Ultimately, the company wanted to increase sales production through the utilization of best practice and technology.

Solution: AMS created a current state model for the management team to leverage while assessing the data that was useful to them.  This data was then examined and aligned with critical success factors for both the management team and sales staff.  AMS was able to identify redundant process and measurement criteria that enabled the team to reduce double work and the amount of data they had to evaluate each day.  AMS then designed a dashboard that ran behind their Outlook interface which contained the best practice, current sales goals and upcoming promotions.

Benefits: The organization benefited from having all critical decision making and sales goal data accessible in one place.  This resulted in more accurate assessments of markets and, ultimately, sales person productivity.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Improve team building and customer focus.

Challenge: The organization needed improvement in team building and customer focus.

Solution: AMS consultants provided a team building workshop and is currently working with the organization to provide one-on-one coaching for its sales managers.

Benefits: This training resulted in improved employee morale and created a better understanding of customer focus, thus driving sales throughout the western region.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Create a training program for virtual and regionally dispersed personnel.

Challenge: Create a core training program for the organization's sales management team focused on providing skills to help them manage a demographically dispersed group of 500 sales associates.  The client is seeking to bring continuity to the sales message as well as provide a better platform to keep associates “in-tune” with the corporate initiatives without being able to have daily face to face contact.

Solution: The initial focus of this program was pointed at the sales managers who had the responsibility of training, coaching and reviewing each sales person.  The AMS team taught them the techniques to better manage in a virtual team environment.  This core training program helped them to gain competency beyond “basic” team management skill sets.  In addition to the management training they received coaching skills that were useful during times when the sales force was not at hand and communications were one-on-one.  These coaching skills were tied to corporate objectives and directly back to the associates’ performance via a customized 360 degree assessment process.

Benefits: As a result of the training and additional coaching skills, each territory sales manager saw a decrease in turnover and an increase in customer satisfaction.  Based on a sampling of the clients and staff one year after the program it was cited by the CEO that they reduced employee training cost by 5% and over-all territory sales by 8% attributed to this initiative. 

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: The creation of best practice to manage off shore teams and the interaction between them and domestic development groups. Additionally, training for both domestic and international teams.

Challenge: The client was seeking the development of best practice methods to shorten the development cycle for software platforms being outsourced to India.  Additionally, they needed training to work with partners in India as well as the knowledge to manage the direct interaction with the team’s offshore partners.  Cultural, process, communication and client satisfaction were of the most concern.

Solution: AMS created business process to assist the domestic team with communication protocol and requirements gathering.  The AMS solution also included the alignment of a SME with direct India experience allowing for cultural definition and training.  The AMS team found the best solution fit was to teach the local team to leverage their business analysis competency and integrate the existing process with the off shore events.  This approach allowed the organization to benefit from existing skill sets while improving performance.

Benefits: The client’s ability to manage deliverables was greatly improved and was measured by an immediate improvement in re-work reduction and overall performance.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Designing a more efficient accounts payable process.

Challenge: The organization required assistance in designing a more efficient accounts payable process.

Solution: Through a series of focus groups and targeted interviews with three locations, Advanced Management Services, Inc. consultants were able to design a process that met the needs of the entire organization, and obtain buy-in and support for it throughout the company.

Benefits: As a result of this endeavor, accounts payable turnaround time has been reduced, internal service levels have increased and cross-functional communication has been greatly enhanced.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Implement automated scorecards.

Challenge: The organization decided to implement an automated scorecard to make data more accessible and easily understood to its sales team.

Solution: In collaboration with their technology partner, Corridor Consulting, Advanced Management Services, Inc. analyzed the existing data sources (over 100), defined the most appropriate use of data, validated the availability of the most useful technology to support the tool, and built a comprehensive Proof of Concept.

Benefits: The project is currently still in process. The tool, once produced, will be utilized by sales representatives nationwide to enhance production.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Align risk management process with an already existing project Execution Planning methodology.

Challenge: The organization required assistance working with the Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment Program to test and demonstrate at least two alternative technologies to the baseline incineration process for the demilitarization of assembled chemical weapons with risk management.

Solution: AMS helped them align their risk management process, making it a live on-going event which correlated with the rest of their Project Execution Planning methodology safely and timely.

Benefits: The client was then able to review and enhance the plan which enabled them to proactively mitigate project risk and enhance the utilization of resources.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Create an efficient learning model.

Challenge: The institution required a learning model to promote efficiency and accountability.

Solution: AMS consultants successfully delivered a program that later was adopted as a contributor to the national service standard initiative.

Benefits: Additionally, several of the key personnel involved in regional support of the program were asked to champion the effort during its nationwide rollout.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Planning large projects.

Challenge: The organization needed help planning a large project they were just awarded by the Department of Energy.

Solution: AMS consultants helped define the definitive work breakdown structure, project plan and budget, and developed a MS Project template for current and future use in project planning.

Benefits: AMS also helped the organization with a risk assessment, and provided ongoing training so the schedule and its associated project execution plans could be managed internally.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Provide an automated mechanism for one of the top 4 insurance companies to publish critical business information to over 5,000 General Agents.

Challenge: The organization relied heavily upon a network of general agents and it was critical that information was distributed on a timely and reliable basis to all of the targeted agents.  In the absence of the system, the process was very cumbersome and prone to error.

Solution: AMS (Corridor) worked closely with the organization to properly understand the requirements for content creation, workflow and publishing requirements.   Once fully understood, a comprehensive system was employed to automate the manual processes and allow for information to be readily shared and accessed. Extensive user interface customizations for Intranet compliance were employed and the solution was designed to leverage the Hummingbird architecture in a complex web-server format.

Benefits: The automated mechanism was put into place for this company with no glitches. The information was delivered on a timely and reliable basis.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Provide a collaborative environment that allows the client’s employees to share information internally and externally.

Challenge: The client required that every library be a unique UI experience. An MS Explorer type browsing interface was needed to find the documents in the libraries. Interactive discussion was required to create a true collaborative environment.

Solution: AMS (Corridor) worked with the client to customize the CyberDOCS user interface to accommodate the unique look and feel. Once the user interface was customized, we utilized our DM Explorer tool to browse the library with an MS Explorer interface. Finally, our team customized and implemented the threading module.

Benefits: We were able to aide in providing a collaborative environment for the client’s employees. Our tool for sharing information internally and externally was equally successful.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Enhance the existing DOCS/CyberDOCS implementation with publishing and email subscription tools.

Challenge: The IRS was seeking to provide support for multiple source and destination publishing libraries. Additionally, they needed an interface in which they could let users know when documents change even when it is not defined in DOCS.

Solution: AMS (Corridor) worked with the organization to utilize our DM Publish, this was used to accommodate approval and publishing of information to multiple destination libraries. We also utilized the DM Pull in order to let anonymous and named users subscribe to events that affect documents, projects and quick searches.

Benefits: We were able to accomplish our objectives in enhancing the IRS’ existing DOCS/CyberDOCS implementation. They are also able to use the publishing and email subscription tools we designed very effectively.

Solution Suite: Business Development.

Project Description: Worldwide multi-repository system for numerous business units. Knowledge management system with cross repository searching.

Challenge: The client needed their users to download multiple files at once. Our solution needed to be able to integrate with Siebel SFA. It was also required that an automated notification was sent to the authors when the documents expired.

Solution: AMS (Corridor) worked with the client to utilize our DM Zip compress and download documents in CyberDOCS. Our team then enhanced DM Publish in order to accommodate Siebel SFA which was defined as a destination for publishing. We again enhanced DM Publish to notify authors when documents expired.

Benefits: Our launch of the world wide multi-repository system for the organization was successful.

Solution Suite: Professional Development.

Project Description: Competency Alignment; design and assist in the implementation of a competency alignment model to increase productivity and reduce attrition.

Challenge: The client needed to maximize their training dollars by aligning specific content to job titles and career paths.  The training needed to be delivered via a blended model and constructed to provide measurable results via a pre and post assessment process aligned to performance metrics for each job classification.

Solution: AMS partnered with the client to produce a “career path road map” that illustrated the advancement path most common to primary job positions.  Once this map was created we worked with the team to align correlating competencies at both the job and performance level, thus allowing for employee awareness of expectations and usable measurement criteria for HR assessments.

The career path road map and competency matrix were then combined within an assessment and set against a training curriculum to begin aligning the “base-line” for training candidates to enter the curriculum.  This entrance point criteria allowed managers to best position associates for immediate training benefit via a customized curriculum that aligned with their personal development needs. 

The curriculum itself was constructed using our Case Based Learning Experience, (CBLE) model and was customized to align fully with the organization's culture, Lean Manufacturing environment, ISO and Six Sigma requirements.  Each Program was unique as it also adopted principles from the most current business books, using them as a supplement to the core course materials.

Benefits: The training was rolled out worldwide via the organization's existing corporate university.  The roll out was viewed as extraordinarily successful as the training candidates were able to recognize immediate value application back to their jobs.  The organization experienced the highest rate of return on training they had seen measured through lowered turn over and raised productivity.

Solution Suite: Professional Development, Business Development.

Project Description: Global Leadership Development.

Challenge: The organization was faced with rapid expansion and attrition due to a transitioning/retiring executive workforce.  Additionally they were challenged with a global work force requiring varied levels of leadership development and inclusion training.

Solution: AMS created a stage gated educational and development plan which included a leadership assessment, gap analysis aligned to job function and baseline competency as well as crafting customized best practice and intellectual property to align with the organization's strategic initiatives.

Benefits: The organization was able to establish an internal benchmark for the leadership competency while crafting performance metrics and career paths for developing managers.  In addition, the structure of the program led to a reduction in attrition and a boost in overall productivity due to inclusion and visible paths for each associate.  These solutions were rolled out globally and delivered via on-site, distance and consulting vehicles.  The program was adopted by all divisions and is still the base-line for the organization's leadership development training.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Create a complete Capital Project Management Process (CPMP) including training, methodologies and organizational structures.

Challenge: The client required assistance with the development of both their Global (full service) Capital Project Management Office and a worldwide training program designed and facilitated for their newly developed Capital Project Management Process; they called on AMS to coordinate and integrate these efforts.

Solution: A comprehensive training program was developed and delivered throughout the Global Project Management community and the PMO was developed as a multi-faceted and service-based organization with the capability to direct, consult and assist with a wide range of international capital project types and sizes

Benefits: The organization has witnessed immediate positive results in Risk Management Planning, Scheduling, Estimating Accuracy, Execution Effectiveness and an overall increase in the effectiveness of Project Management communication and understanding throughout the global enterprise. 

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Develop consistent managing methodologies.

Challenge: The organization was seeking to develop a consistent methodology for managing their national Design/Construction (D/C) projects and elevating customer satisfaction level.

Solution: AMS facilitated complete methodology development sessions with the senior resources and, based on successful in-house processes and industry best practices, developed the organization’s comprehensive Project Management Operating Standard (PMOS).

Benefits: AMS is now developing a multi-level Project Management training curriculum to enhance competency at all levels of the organization. As the organization has undergone a recent merger, the PMOS has allowed for a quick transition of the newly formed and multi-disciplined organization to one consistent Project Management standard.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Review and organize project assessment.

Challenge: The organization was seeking to perform an assessment of their projects aimed at FDA compliance (21CFRPart11).

Solution: AMS assessment reviewed all aspects of the project and helped the client achieve clarity around realistic deliverables, project schedule, time frame, risk quantification and more.

Benefits: The client was then able to initiate an immediate change in management effort, keep the project visible at the management and associate levels, and contribute to overall project completion and success.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Enterprise wide consultation in Project Management.

Challenge: The organization required enterprise-wide consultation around the features and benefits associated with project management.

Solution: AMS consultants helped to identify the company's need and promote the initiative to the workforce as well as senior executives.

Benefits: The client was able to establish and implement a solution that fit their needs, rendering a stabilized process around the project management initiative.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Assistance and training in the development of a Project Management Office (PMO).

Challenge: The company needed assistance in implementing their Project Support Office in order for them to champion their newly created flexible PMO Life Cycle Process.

Solution: AMS developed a best practice process that worked well for the client’s needs as well as creating the documentation that supported the process. AMS also provided key training classes for the associates involved in working with the newly created best practice process.

Benefits: As a result of this engagement the company now has a Life Cycle Process to back up their Project Management Best Practices. They have also implemented their Project Support Office and have several highly trained associates to help keep their support office running. Their training attendance and feedback has never been better.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Project management training.

Challenge: The organizations needed project management training.

Solution: Through partnership with Advanced Management Services, Inc., these organizations have been able to develop a continuous training program for hundreds of associates.

Benefits: These programs have resulted in a multitude of successful PMP (Project Management Professional) accreditations and continued increases in the success of projects built around improved individual competencies.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Preparation for PMP exam.

Challenge: The organization was seeking to develop an enterprise–wide approach to project management competency, process and methodology.

Solution: AMS developed the senior project manager training platform and a preparation schema (study & training) for the PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. Additionally, AMS developed a comprehensive and hands-on 4-day program, trained over 90 project resources, and to date the pass rate for the PMP certification is 100% (52 of 52). AMS also assisted the organization in setting up their PMO and developing consistent project management standards for multiple project types.

Benefits: This allowed the client to reduce “project misses”, enhance organizational communication, increase the organization’s proficiency and render the organization more competitive. 

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Design a Project Management Office.

Challenge: The organization was seeking to design a project management office.

Solution: AMS consultants analyzed the organization’s goals and aligned them with the existing hierarchy to design an efficient project office operation.

Benefits: The design was not only a success but currently the company is recognizing results on previously stalled initiatives and expanding its portfolio with the same number of resources.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Develop a set of PM operating standards.

Challenge: The organization required the development of a set of Project Management Operating Standards.

Solution: AMS consultants established a base of operational standards that support the organization's entire portfolio of I.S. projects.

Benefits: In addition, Advanced Management Services, Inc. formed a strategic alliance with the organization to private label consulting and training services for their international client base.  Advanced Management Services, Inc. has successfully executed several phases of this program with success and continued to facilitate the alliance.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Assisting project management process.

Challenge: The organization required assistance with their project management planning process.

Solution: AMS consultants helped the company organize their project deliverables in alignment with a major award they had just been granted from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Benefits: The client was then able to develop a detailed project execution plan in support of this effort.  The documentation has helped the organization stay on time, on budget and enhance their project delivery relationship with the DOE.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Develop a highly customized curriculum.

Challenge: The organization was seeking to efficiently bring their Project Management skills to a new level.

Solution: AMS consultants developed a highly customized curriculum based around their existing methodology which surpassed the client’s expectations.

Benefits: The client was not only in fact able to successfully bring their Project Management skills to a higher level,  as a result of the effectiveness, the program is being rolled out to project management associates nationwide.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Quickly and efficiently customize a three-day solution.

Challenge: The provider needed services in project management training.

Solution: AMS consultants quickly, efficiently and accurately customized a three-day solution for them.

Benefits: The client then learned a greater understanding of project management, as well as insight on the key impact human interaction has on their critical service role.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Provide risk management to associates on four locations.

Challenge: The organization was seeking to provide a comprehensive education to their associates in four locations on Project Risk Management.

Solution: Working with an internal team to define the competencies required in this area, AMS developed and implemented a web-based assessment to identify individual skills gaps.  AMS then delivered a comprehensive training program customized to the client's industry, incorporating all elements of project risk management.

Benefits: As a result, the initial target group of over 200 individuals has shown positive results in planning and managing risk on a variety of projects.

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Create process and learning events to establish best practice and competence.  

Challenge: The organization was seeking to gain a measure of consistency in project management practices across information technology and various business units so there was a common terminology and “way” throughout the organization. 

Solution: AMS created a custom learning program that embedded key elements of the client methodologies along with industry best practices.  The training message that was targeted slanted to each business area and level within the organization as appropriate, so that folks were learning what was most relevant to them; yet delivering a consistent message throughout the organization. 

Benefits: The client was able to successfully roll-out project management programs across the enterprise, spreading the message of consistency and companywide practices. 

Solution Suite: Project Management.

Project Description: Using CMM Assessment as a vendor solution process.

Challenge: The organization was seeking to assess the viability and capabilities of a potential software vendor located in a Slavic State.

Solution: AMS utilized our Capability Maturity Model (CMM) Assessment program as part of their vendor solutions process. Advanced Management Services, Inc. consultants met the challenge of evaluating the software company’s methods, processes and development capabilities under tight budget and timing without ever visiting the country. By leveraging various communication technologies, the organization under review submitted processes, documents and evidence of executing their processes for their major clients and processes. By instilling AMS’s best practice approach to reviews, AMS was able to quickly review the software vendor processes, recommend a series of process improvements, and note where significant risks could be mitigated on both technical and project management topics.

Benefits: The client was able to meet the base requirements of CMM evaluations. The final report provided feedback on how the prospective vendor could improve their Technical Project Management Processes with a path forward to advance their CMM Level. This service-based approach afforded the client organization the opportunity to implement a performance based improvement plan with the prospective vendor to ensure they received the highest quality product possible.

Solution Suite: Training Programs.

Project Description: Design, content development implementation and measurement of a complete corporate university and Learning Management System.

Challenge: Developing a corporate university model to support the design of courseware, measurement of the learning process, selection of internal and external delivery teams, recurrent training of the learning center's staff and performance metrics to validate return on training dollars.

Solution: AMS and the client team worked together to set instructional design standards for courseware development and alignment to the organization's needs based on gaps identified during preliminary needs analysis.  By implementing our Career Path Training process we were able to quickly and cost effectively inventory the core needs of the organization, set those needs against the company’s growth strategy and, in turn, identify a progressive catalog of training programs to assist in the long term execution of the business plan.  Once the core set of intellectual property was identified and either put into production or purchased from vendors, AMS began aligning the processes that would support the learning model.  AMS deployed their Corporate Learning Model as the basis of the organization's learning management system.  This process also included the option to customize programs to accommodate business unit needs, demographics and target audience variations by using the Case Based Learning Experience (CBLE).  Finally, this portion of the project was rounded out by formalizing the courseware inventory and making it available through an on-line press model to ensure that any location within the organization could leverage and utilize the content while allowing corporate version control and maintenance to take place via the firm’s intranet.  This process can be designed into a Microsoft SharePoint platform allowing for full access and document management flexibility.  Inventory can be controlled to identify usage, feedback and currency of all intellectual property.  Finally, AMS designed a skills inventory and performance management survey that aligned with the Kirkpatrick scale and was back-dropped to job related measurements. The AMS solution was deployed throughout the client environment with the intention of reducing attrition, improving morale, improving productivity and ultimately improving the profitability.  Each deliverable stage was executed over a 12 month period with a test cycle of 2 years and a development cycle that was continuous once the core curriculum was in place.  Each instructor team was to be aligned by geography and competency allowing for on-site facilitation of the learning center's content when required. Finally, the organization saw a value add to the shareholders and publicized the learning center as part of their overall growth strategy.  Over time the learning center was leveraged to provide vendor training as well with programs like CRM, globalization and virtual teaming; all very relevant to extended development activities.

Benefits: The client organization was able to successfully implement the roll out of the learning center and realize the objectives set forth in the project charter.  Within the first year the client developed 20 programs and mobilized 5 of those via an on-line delivery model.  Results of employee assessments showed improvements of competency against job related functions of 15-20% utilizing a scaled testing format.  Employee turn over within the pilot group of demographically mixed personnel dropped 50% against the general population and culture surveys provided to the pilot group and the general population showed vast improvements in overall morale.

Solution Suite: Training Programs.

Project Description: Development of live web training best practice.

Challenge: Create a learning platform that allowed for interaction, participation and transfer of knowledge via an on-line environment.

Solution: AMS assembled a team of its core consulting staff to generate Best Practices around the environment of Live Web Training.  The team leveraged its senior level expertise within the Training and Development industry to craft what is now a recognized brand within the firm known as AMS Interactive.  AMS Interactive encompasses the firm’s three variations on asynchronous delivery models, including Distance Education as well as Live Web Training via their technology partnership with Microsoft and the LiveMeeting technology.  The best practice suite that the AMS team crafted has been noted by many clients as the most interactive and useful web training they have seen and is proving itself by advancing the delivery of education in many corporate and governmental arenas.  The unique blend of instructor/student interaction, use of breakout rooms, whiteboards, annotations, shared content and audio/visual streaming has led the firm to recognizing its goal of “bringing the classroom on line.”

Benefits: Organizations have found a way to deliver training to diverse groups that are demographically separated via a means that embeds the benefits of traditional face to face training.  This process meets the needs of the participant and corporation by saving time, money and time away from the desk.  AMS can blend delivery models to further enhance the experience and capture all of the elements of the corporate environment.  Finally, each program is customizable via the firm's CBLE customization model offering another dimension of personalization.

Solution Suite: Training Programs.

Project Description: Project management training.

Challenge: The organizations required project management training.

Solution: AMS designed and developed the curriculum. Much like the insurance programs, these platforms were targeted at promoting best in class project behaviors through the enhancement of individual competencies.

Benefits: The clients recognized equal success measured through project efficiency and individual productivity.

Solution Suite: Training Programs.

Project Description: Design and delivery of a Project Management Training curriculum focused on the needs of a diverse audience, resulting in PMP accreditation.

Challenge: Developing a multi program training curriculum that would be flexible enough to meet the needs of varied pre-existing skill sets while filling the gaps identified between corporate, industry and PMBOK© knowledge areas. 

Solution: AMS undertook the sizable task of performing interviews of a cross section of the target audience as well as their managers.  These interviews allowed the AMS team to garner data relating to the organization's expectations and base level of performance in their Project Management activities.    Once this macro data was collected it was stratified and used to create pre and post training assessments as well as an overall needs analysis.  The data from these activities allowed the team to create a career path based curriculum and also to embed performance metrics for the attendees.   Once all of the information was in place, AMS designed a PMBOK© aligned curriculum that took the company goals and intertwined them with the requirements for PMP© accreditation into consideration. 

Benefits: The organization has trained over 1200 associates thus far and they have experienced a 100% pass rate on the PMP exam.  More importantly, the organization has seen marked improvements in project performance, reduced turnover and has been able to create a more refined career path for its project based employees. 

Solution Suite: Training Programs.

Project Description: Sales and marketing for the PM; build content for the sales and marketing personnel of a large US based technology integration and CRM provider.

Challenge: The client organization was in need of Project Management training for the sales and marketing personnel within their implementation division.  The firm was having difficulty with the sales department scoping projects that engineering could not build.  This issue was causing customer satisfaction problems as well as internal problems.  AMS was tasked with training the sales and technical staff on the attributes of Project Management, time management and scope management in order to help the sales and engineering departments work more effectively as a team.

Solution: AMS created a questionnaire for the internal customers in order to highlight the exact point in which breakdowns in the communication process was occurring.  This tool was web enabled and over 200 associates participated in the survey.  The data generated from the pre-training query was used to identify the core skill sets that the Project Management (PM) program would focus on.  AMS leveraged core content for the development process and then aligned an instructor with specific industry expertise to facilitate the program.  The three day training event was focused on the core communication issues that were plaguing the company and back-dropped them against a standard PM planning lifecycle.  The organization was able to benefit from the standardized model and content embedded in the materials and immediately leverage them in the current business process.  Each class contained an exercise to map out the scope and communication protocol for an ongoing project.  This modeling opened the door for project teams to work through real life examples with the AMS facilitator guiding them.  Upon completion of the training event it was a requirement for each participant to have an action plan for the project they brought to the class. The student was to review the action plan with supervision and integrate the deliverables in ongoing project work.  A follow up customer query was to be initiated within six months and a full evaluation of internal project communication was to be prepared.  The goal of these events was to help the internal teams recognize efficiency by saving time on scope changes and ultimately improving the external customer service rating.  The results of the follow up survey indicated that project scope creep had been significantly reduced and morale was greatly improved between the sales/marketing and engineering personnel. 

Benefits: The training was rolled out nationally and videotaped for the international offices.  Participants benefited via the PMI PDU’s that were granted as well as the obvious goal of enhancing skill sets.  Within the first three months the organization was able to identify an immediate ROI seen through the amount of change orders the sales department was producing.  The more significant benefit was actually seen in the engineering department itself, as productivity increased greatly allowing for a reassessment of bandwidth allocation.  The discourse between the two departments was also squelched as the organization was now operating as a team focused on one goal; customer satisfaction.

Solution Suite: Training Programs.

Project Description: Developing a communications program.

Challenge: The organization needed a communications program to support their Learning Center curriculum.

Solution: AMS consultants collected data from several divisions with the institution to establish a baseline of competency and then designed a platform to target the need.

Benefits: Through implementation of this continuous improvement program, one division salvaged a relationship with a client representing $1 billion dollars of managed equity.

Solution Suite: Training Programs.

Project Description: Train staff on financial statements.

Challenge: The organization needed to train their underwriting staff on financial statements and their proper utilization.

Solution: AMS consultants created several hybrid courses using industry leading companies as a model, and implemented the training at several locations nationwide.

Benefits: The training was successful in its attempt to broaden the skill base of the underwriters and proper a platform for their continuing education.  As a result, the underwriters are better able to assess a corporation’s risk, and therefore make better management decisions on behalf of the company.

Solution Suite: Training Programs.

Project Description: Fundamental quality training.

Challenge: The organization desired training in the fundamentals of quality as it relates to project management

Solution: AMS aligned the programs with government standards and best practices to create a customized learning event.

Benefits: Both branches saw immediate results measured by increased productivity and more efficient decision making processes.

Solution Suite: Training Programs.

Project Description: Provide an educational track and ECM roadmap strategy followed immediately by an in-depth vendor analysis and vendor selection process for a high profile Massachusetts state agency.

Challenge: Since the agency’s inception as a pension board oversight committee, it has struggled with large volumes of paper and labor-intensive processes. Additionally, the agency was very concerned about averting potential disasters by having as much correspondence available on-line and backed-up.

Solution: AMS (Corridor) worked with the agency in going through a series of steps to help define and pursue an agency wide enterprise based ECM strategy.  The project started with a high-level educational track for the key stakeholders and departmental champions.  Upon concluding the educational track, a cross-functional meeting took place for all participating departments and this was followed up by a series of short 1-2 hour analysis sessions with each stakeholder.  Upon concluding the high level analysis, an initial roadmap was prepared and presented.  After refining the roadmap, it was accepted and we were then asked to help prepare a comprehensive ROI study.  Once the investment was justified, assistance was provided in mapping out a vendor analysis and selection process.

Benefits: We were able to provide the educational track as well as the ECM roadmap strategy successfully. Once these were set into place, the in-depth vendor analysis and vendor selection process were then easy to map out for the client.