Synopsis

Updated Principia web site — http://principia-it.co.uk.

Working on open source and creative commons projects.

• Created itslm.com.
• Created wiki.itslm.com to share information about IT system life-cycle management.
• Created omneity.itslm.com to support development of Omneity system.
• Developing a knowledge management system for configuration management—Omneity (details on the Omneity wiki site).

Recently started to learn French and Swahili.

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Delivering parallel development tool set to RWE IT. System was a bespoke C#.NET integration with Dimensions using an inference engine to analyse and plan the most effective integration sequence for parallel developed code across multiple streams. Delivered the client server application (interface delivered as web service using WCF), UML model, design documentation, training, guidance and technical notes on applying parallel development. Trained RWE CM team in the the management of parallel development. 

While working on the parallel development system I also delivered a survey of RWE IT applications, showing a gap analysis against a defined central architecture plan. Also, planned and executed a migration of pilot projects from Serena Version Manager into Dimensions for piloting the parallel development tool.

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After successuflly delivering parallel development tools to RWE I was re-engaged to evaluate the existing development support toolset. This included the core ALM tools and support environments (such as centralised build and release facilities).

This evaluation resulted in further work designing, documenting, deploying and delivering training for a new system. This system resulted in a 70% reduction in annual license costs while simultaneously delivering improved development support facilities.

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Created online multimedia training courses for Subversion (http://academy.principia-it.co.uk).

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Configuration management consultancy and direct technical assistance to implement source code control system to support both internal and outsourced systems development.

Role required liaison between central Argos and supplier organisations, commissioning of infrastructure (including Argos to supplier network), documentation (technical and process), training (Argos and supplier)

Source code management solution based on Subversion.

Configuration, build and release manager for the Barclays Wealth Portal project (their principal web offering).

I was responsible for all process and procedures relating to the build, packaging, configuration management, change and release management of the Portal project. This assignment involves end-to-end management of these processes and required both design, implementation and execution of all processes. This assignment was both technical and managerial in nature, requiring a broad mix of skills ranging from low level packaging and a thorough understanding of the technology being deployed through to the day-to-day management of the configuration, change and release processes.

Working on MBA, book, educational videos, contributing to CMCrossroads community and taking a break.

Working for Legal & Generals within one of their sub-contractors (Crystal Software Solutions) to deliver release, change, and configuration management. Within three months, successfully implemented a new configuration management, build, and deployment systems in Crystal to allow project timescale compression through the use of parallel development. Project was delivered on time, to specification and Crystal were awarded completion bonuses.

Legal & General renewed my service contract for three months to implement document management between Legal & General and Crystal. This project was delivered on time and to requirements using Microsoft SharePoint.

Both systems were delivered with documentation (user, administration and technical), and user training courses.

Writing a book on IT System Lifecycle Management. In doing this I have also been active on http://cmcrossroads.com forums. I also started http://principia-it.co.uk, a website for my company but also a site were I can develop ideas for the book.

Configuration Manager for SBS UK Passport Services programme. Reviewed existing project CM facilities. Designed, developed, documented, implemented, and maintained a new "single" solution to be used across the whole programme. Also developed new build and deployment system based on ANT for one large project, this reduced build and deploy times from days to two hours, and also made build more consistent and reliable. Also developed a Java "dashboard" based on XRadar to provide metrics on the project. All of these facilities were integrated though a web front-end based on tikiwiki.

Software Configuration and Build Manager. Developed and implemented a new build system for all in-house applications (Windows, .NET Framework, C#, VBS and MSSQL Server 2000). Developed and implemented new Configuration Management solution for all software and infrastructure within GMAC-RFC (UK) - using Telelogic's Synergy Suite. Administered this system for a programme involving 80 developers and divided into 8 concurrent work streams; this work included development, training, tool administration, build and configuration management of the systems being developed.

Developed end-to-end configuration management system, corporate intranet microsites for both Change and Configuration Management, supported and guided development of organisational ITIL based processes for Change, Configuration, Release and Application Management.

Developing CM Street web site http://cmstreet.com (now replaced by http://principia-it.co.uk) to promote ITIL Best Practices in IT system development and management.

Consulting work for MERANT (now Serena): provided configuration management expertise to AMP for their e-commerce project AMPLE Interactive Investor.

Rolled out PVCS Dimensions to the organisation while also providing operational configuration management, build, release, change and project management, and technical system support to the e-commerce project. Lead a team of four people; one experienced contractor and two new configuration managers. The role demanded a broad set of skills from dealing with technical problems through to presentations to the client and team management.

This project involved various technologies crossing both Windows NT and UNIX environments and included a significant amount of system integration work.

Recovered Configuration Management system, making the transition from theoretical process to operational system. This position involved, in part; training an eight person team of 'novice' configuration managers, developing processes and procedures, developing tool use strategies (PVCS Dimensions), developing parallel code development strategies, planning and resourcing the configuration management effort for National Savings, obtaining 'buy-in' from all parts of the organisation and ensuring that the CM system operated correctly. A Change Management system and application development process where also put in place. The CM System was required to control all aspects of the organisation, including; hardware, software (COTS, bespoke, in-house, support, applications, etc.), documentation and abstract entities such as key performance indicators.

Analysed, designed and commissioned NVision's configuration management system. The CM system was developed to handle both development of the e-commerce systems (hardware, software and documentation) and also be a deliverable to the client.

Provided consultancy to DrKB on behalf of Continuus Software Limited (now Telelogic).

Prepared Proposal for design and roll-out of software configuration management across DrKB, including interfacing to global Dresdner Group. Prepared and maintained Intranet site for software configuration management and Continuus (now Synergy/CM) toolset.

Provided support for existing projects using Continuus, advising on implementation and build systems within Continuus product.

Originally provided technical information on the commissioning of Continuus toolset throughout Prudential IT. Provided input to project planning, wrote process documentation and provided general CM expertise.

As of December 1998 took over as Client Server implementation team leader. Managed a team of five to implement and role out Continuus CM across Prudential IT.

Engaged by Logica to provide Configuration Management Consultancy to British Midland Airways. Analysed existing processes, proposed new processes, project plans, costings and presented all material and conclusions to the client's senior management.

Engaged by Logica to provide Configuration Management expertise to their EME Year 2000 Programme. Designed, documented and commissioned processes to support large scale Configuration Management, Change Control, Problem Management, Issue Management, Incident Management and Release Management. Specified and selected tools to support these processes.

Assist in preparing the company's software process for ISO9000. Set up and administer software configuration management systems (Sablime, Continuus and CVS). Prepared system builds, developed and maintained build system for NT, embedded Z80 and Unix environments.

Initially consulting on software configuration management. This resulted in a contract to design and write a front-end system for CMS. Using SMG this system was written (in 'C') and adopted by the client in a little over four months.

Developed facilities included fault tracking, work packet tracking, build construction and configuration tools.

Responsible for configuration management of all software development; UNIX, VMS and PC platforms.

Initiated and ran Capability Maturity Model evaluation and process improvement programme, reporting to managing director.

Performed a business process engineering exercise on "production scheduling and forecasting", reporting to managing director and top-line management.

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Developed expert systems for real time vibration analysis using SMALLTALK on 286/386 PCs.

Made redundant when company faced financial difficulties.