Product Implementations Model (PIM) 

When a customer wants to implement a new business tool there is a lot to consider.
                      • What features should the new tool to take over from the tools used today?
                      • How to import data into the new tool?
                      • How do we involve the staff in the new process?
                      • How do we educate the staff?
With COWI Management's proven Product Implementation Model (PIM) these issues will be handled in a structured way. This reduces the implementation costs and the quality levels are increased. 

Customer benefits
By using a well-established model the lead time for the project is reduced which thus also reduces costs for personnel. At the same time the quality increases when COWI Management for each implementation improves the model and thus the understanding of the client's situation and needs are improved. Thus the delivery contains even higher quality. A proven model also reduces the risk that something goes wrong or that an activity is forgotten. It is also easy to monitor the progress of the project since it contains many decision points. The steering group is involved at appropriate occasions, which gives a good view into the project and the possibility to manage it in the correct direction.

Content
The model consists of five phases. The first four are all ending with a Tollgate (TG). It is the steering group that decides whether a TG is passed or not. The five phases are:
                      • Preparation
                      • Design
                      • Validation
                      • Commissioning
                      • Evaluation
Each one of these phases includes a number of activities. Gradually, as the project progresses, data is analyzed and documents are created and finally verified before they are approved. This clarifies what to do and misunderstandings are avoided.

Implementation
At the start of the project a steering group is established composed of staff from the client and COWI Management. The client appoints a project manager and COWI Management appoints an assignment manager. The project manager and the assignment manager then have shared responsibility for the project. These two convenes staff from the client and consultants from COWI Management to activities during the different phases. The steering group is continuously informed and convenes meetings at the different occasions.
The prospective users are educated by means of customized or standardized courses.

Demarcation
The PIM includes a wide range of activities. In most cases COWI Management and the client share the responsibility. In some cases the responsibility rests with COWI Management alone for certain activities.  The client is solely responsible for the activities in the following three cases; developing presentation materials, creating processes for handling the tool and the process for internal marketing.