London Underground Ltd
A major engineering/construction project beginning in 1990, with an
estimated cost of around £1.9 billion. Over 1,000 personnel were
recruited to work directly on the Project. Systems, procedures and use of
Information Technology were developed specifically for this Project.
Head of Information Systems
Controlling the provision of IT facilities and systems for management
of the Project. Staff numbers peaked at 36 with a Project life budget of
£14.2m. Number of users exceeded 1,000 located at around 30 sites.
- Set out and implemented the IT strategy for the whole Project.
- Developed and established roles and structure for the IT function
within the Project to meet budgetary requirements to develop and support
computer applications and facilities in line with the IT strategy.
- Defined and established parameters for financial and contractual
controls for the Project and prepared Project-wide control procedures.
- Managed a wide variety of contractors and suppliers to carry out
cabling, develop software and numerous other tasks.
- Prepared requirements definition, selected, or controlled
development, and implemented systems for the following functions :-
- Accounting, purchasing and accounts payable (SUN) to run on Novell
Netware network, subsequently transferred to Unix server.
- Project cost control (based on ICEPAC, but with a substantial
number of enhancements and extensions)
- Project planning and monitoring system (Artemis 7000/Plus and QEI)
- CAD facilities (Intergraph) using Unix and DOS workstations and
Unix server
- Drawing and CAD design management and document management
developed in-house and running on Informix
- Spatial information system for recording and displaying
geotechnical information
- Managed major re-locations, controlled the provision of the
telephone service, prepared and tested disaster recovery plans
- Controlled implementation and use of CAD facilities, including the
use of standards and quality as well as supporting network and systems.
- Set-up a small O&M section to devise and implement efficient
systems and procedures throughout the Project.
- Controlled implementation, enhancement and on-going support of the
Project's data network using 30 servers over 30 sites to suit the changing
business needs.
Hodgson Impey Associates Limited, Feb 1989 - Jan 1990
Formed at the beginning of 1989, the company was a general management
consultancy. A substantial rationalisation and re-organisation was commenced at
the latter part of the year and the parent firm merged with another.
Senior Consultant
Working as part of a team of consultants offering professional advice
on general management and systems.
- Undertook consultancy assignments for clients in different
businesses, such as distribution, professional practices and manufacturing.
Assignments included advice on system selection, business planning,
specification of computer-based systems.
- Prepared tender for large overseas project involving close liaison
with joint tenderer.
- Prepared proposals to win consultancy work from public sector
bodies.
- Developed promotional material and set up sales campaigns for the
consultancy team.
Australia
RGC is a major Australian mining house, formed as the result of a
merger of four listed public companies in 1982. During the subsequent years,
the company changed to a divisional structure and grew by expansion of existing
operations, establishment of new operations and acquisition of other mining and
trading operations in Australia and overseas.
Manager, Information Systems (Jan 1988 - Oct 1988)
Providing systems and IT facilities for the entire organisation.
- Managed a department of professional personnel, consultants,
analysts and others. (Programming was carried out by contractors but projects,
output and implementation was managed by my team).
- Devised overall IT strategy and developed detailed plans and budget
accordingly.
- Whilst retaining accountability for overall project delivery,
defined and assigned projects and tasks to the professional staff.
- Responsible to Divisional General Managers for development,
implementation and support for a range of information systems throughout all
divisions of the company over ten operating sites.
- Responsible for ensuring that adequate computing facilities were
provided at all sites on a 24-hour basis (Australian and overseas) either by an
on-site installation or via the corporate network.
- Reviewed the potential use of satellite communications for the Papua
New Guinea gold-mining operation.
- Set up an Executive Information System to allow certain Directors
and General Managers to review production details and key performance
indicators in a graphical form. By use of the national corporate network and
linked personal computers and graphics terminals, this joint review was usually
undertaken by the participants in widely separated locations resulting in saved
time as well improved communications.
Systems Consultant (Jan 1981 - Dec 1987)
Reporting to Manager, Information Systems
- Responsible for projects from inception through to final
implementation and subsequent on-going support; effectively the Deputy IT
Manager.
- Commissioned a new computer system and supervised installation of a
Geological database system.
- Selected and implemented suite of Accounting software (COMPRO) for
site operation.
- Selected and commissioned computer hardware for a particular site
and subsequently for the head office and all sites throughout the company. This
included detailed investigation and feasibility study of full hardware,
software and other costs together with presentation for Board approval for
total costs of £2 - 3 million.
- Controlled the conversion of a full range of software from a bureau
to on-site machines, plus installation of packages with modifications required
to make package more applicable and to interface with in-house developed
systems.
- Set up computer network based on X.25.
- Selected software packages for a variety of functions including a
general purpose relational database (INFO), spreadsheet (20/20) and project
management (VISION).
- Selected and implemented a Materials and Maintenance Management
System (BHA) used by the three separate operations throughout the company.
Included in this system were Cataloguing, Supply, Creditors, Equipment
Catalogue, Work Orders, Equipment History and Costing modules with interfaces
from Payroll and the General Ledger.
- Provided support for the above systems over a long implementation
period and during subsequent live operations.
Hong Kong
MTRC was formed to construct and then operate the Mass Transit Railway
in the Colony.
Systems Development Manager (Mar 1977 - Jan 1981)
- Controlling development and implementation of systems for the
operation of the railway.
- Carried out a feasibility study in the use of computers to meet the
requirements for operating the Railway. Carried out more detailed work to
recommend the particular computer and software to be used. Selected a computer
bureau to carry out processing work on the following major systems:
- Stores (Inventory Control & Technical Records) System
- Property Management (Billing & Cash Receipt) System
- Set up clerical systems prior to the start-up of stores operations.
- Established a department with a staff of fourteen to develop systems
and carry out further feasibility studies in order to gradually introduce
computer systems with the ultimate aim of establishing an integrated accounting
and management system.
- Developed Function Specifications for the Payroll and Personnel
records and for Purchasing, a further development of the Stores system.
- Responsible for development of clerical systems as part of the
development of Management Information Systems for the operations of the
Railway.
- Set up a small team to provide enhancements to control systems
installed by contractors and to document the automatic fare collection system
based on micro-processors so as to be able to enhance and extend the system for
better control and security.
- Recommended acquisition of computer hardware to run applications
already developed and those planned.
Systems Analyst (Mar 1976 - Mar 1977)
- Initially involved in development of networks for critical path
analysis using a computer system together with elements of a Cost Control
System for construction of the Railway System. Carried out studies which
recommended use of an alternative PERT analysis package and separation of Cost
Control.
Operational Research Officer
Working within the Newcastle Steelworks (which employed over 10,000
personnel), undertook several operational research projects including
completion of a long-term company-wide production and sales rationalisation
project using linear programming, a study of repairs and maintenance costs, the
application of critical path analysis to a major blast furnace reline.
Self Employed, Aug 1970 - Aug 1972
England
Working as a Site Engineer or Section Engineer, carried out engineering
work on various construction sites, mostly in the home counties.
Snowy Mountain Hydro-Electric Authority, Jan 1968 - July 1970
Australia
Engineer
Undertook preliminary investigations on projects for water
conservation, flood mitigation and water supply. Undertook a feasibility study
for a hydro-electric scheme in a developing country, including the full project
economics over the expected life of the scheme. Carried out studies of
operating procedures for sections of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
Also undertook structural analysis and design work.
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