James Robertson
Dr James Robertson is an independent management consultant specializing in systems architecture of information technology solutions and in corporate strategy development and implementation. His focus is solutions which support lasting competitive advantage taking particular account of the factors which typically give rise to failure of I.T. and strategy solutions.
Diverse Work Experience
He has been involved in the effective application of computers to achieve strategic advantage in business since 1981. Experience includes fields as diverse as an international gold mining investment consultancy, a major firm of consulting engineers and as officer commanding an Engineer Regiment in the South Africa Citizen Force army.
He established his information systems and strategy consulting business in 1989. Software and decision support development services were added in 1993. Further experience includes time with IBM Consulting Group and the National Crime Prevention Strategy.
A recent assignment involved over a year as the Business Systems Executive of a major South African Healthcare service provider in an Interim Executive capacity. On this assignment he was responsible for evaluating major international software solutions. Subsequently he was retained in a consulting capacity to specify the detailed system architecture for a major upgrade to existing systems for the same client.
Other recent assignments include strategic marketing planning for a major parastatal in the information technology arena and conceptual systems architecture for a clinical trials company. He is currently writing a book on "The Critical Factors for Information Technology Investment Success".
Particular Interest -- Effective I.T. and Strategy
Particular interests include the effective application and strategic alignment of Information Technology, strategy development and implementation, strategic transformation and corporate turnaround strategies. He places particular emphasis on achieving lasting strategic change by addressing all aspects of business process optimization in a holistic manner.
Rapidly Identify Key Elements of Business Solutions
This has given rise to the TwoCone© consulting methodology. His approach draws heavily on his military and engineering background with particular emphasis on using military "quick attack" appreciation techniques to rapidly identify the key elements of business solutions.
Strongly Market Focused
His approach to I.T. system development, project management and corporate strategy development and implementation utilizes a strongly market focused approach to creating and sustaining competitive advantage. Particular emphasis is placed on deriving the 20% of factors that will generate 80% of the benefit.
At the same time he makes use of engineering metaphors and parallels in order to identify measurable deliverables for abstract projects. This has lead to the development of project management techniques specifically designed for the management of abstract projects such as I.T. system implementation and Corporate Strategy development and implementation.
Broad Based Network
He was one of the founders of "The MaXus Group" a network of specialist consulting firms with international links in many areas of specialist consultancy and was chairman for a number of years. Over the years, he has forged a diversity of business relationships which enable him to assemble professional teams to undertake cost effective, innovative, projects for leading clients. These links have extended to assembling a team for a major tender submission which included the former Chief of Staff of the US Army and the British Defense Establishment Research Agency.
Drawing on his Civil Engineering background, Dr Robertson has been instrumental in progressively seeking to develop formalized design and contract management methodologies and procedures to apply to the software design and construction and management consulting industries. This has contributed to the development of the StratSnap©, StratProc© StratAction©, SoftXList©, SoftDXList©, SoftBuild© and other techniques.
Factors Giving Rise to I.T. and Strategy Background
Dr Robertson's structured engineering approach to problem solving as well as his military experience have contributed greatly to developing an understanding of the factors giving rise to the 90% level of dissatisfaction with Information Technology and Consulting around the world and the 90% failure rate of strategy implementations.
Overcoming and Avoiding Pitfalls
From this he has developed techniques directed at avoiding and overcoming these pitfalls. This has resulted in Dr Robertson delivering presentations on this subject to conferences and corporations in Europe, the Middle East and locally.
Qualifications and International Recognition
Dr Robertson has a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in Civil Engineering (cum Laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the same University, for which he received a major national award. He has given technical presentations and published papers on more than fifty topics.
Dr Robertson was listed in the Marquis "Who's Who in Science and Engineering" in 1998 and has been listed in "Who's Who in the World", which lists only 60,000 people from all walks of life around the world, from 1999 through to 2003. He has also been selected for listing in the second edition of ?2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century? for 2003. Refer side bar for details.
Well Placed to Assist You
Dr James Robertson PrEng is exceptionally well qualified to assist your organization to create sustainable, profitable competitive advantage through the application of Information Technology and through effective Strategic Planning techniques that work.
Dr James Robertson is an independent management consultant specializing in systems architecture of information technology solutions and in corporate strategy development and implementation. His focus is solutions which support lasting competitive advantage taking particular account of the factors which typically give rise to failure of I.T. and strategy solutions.
Diverse Work Experience
He has been involved in the effective application of computers to achieve strategic advantage in business since 1981. Experience includes fields as diverse as an international gold mining investment consultancy, a major firm of consulting engineers and as officer commanding an Engineer Regiment in the South Africa Citizen Force army.
He established his information systems and strategy consulting business in 1989. Software and decision support development services were added in 1993. Further experience includes time with IBM Consulting Group and the National Crime Prevention Strategy.
A recent assignment involved over a year as the Business Systems Executive of a major South African Healthcare service provider in an Interim Executive capacity. On this assignment he was responsible for evaluating major international software solutions. Subsequently he was retained in a consulting capacity to specify the detailed system architecture for a major upgrade to existing systems for the same client.
Other recent assignments include strategic marketing planning for a major parastatal in the information technology arena and conceptual systems architecture for a clinical trials company. He is currently writing a book on "The Critical Factors for Information Technology Investment Success".
Particular Interest -- Effective I.T. and Strategy
Particular interests include the effective application and strategic alignment of Information Technology, strategy development and implementation, strategic transformation and corporate turnaround strategies. He places particular emphasis on achieving lasting strategic change by addressing all aspects of business process optimization in a holistic manner.
Rapidly Identify Key Elements of Business Solutions
This has given rise to the TwoCone© consulting methodology. His approach draws heavily on his military and engineering background with particular emphasis on using military "quick attack" appreciation techniques to rapidly identify the key elements of business solutions.
Strongly Market Focused
His approach to I.T. system development, project management and corporate strategy development and implementation utilizes a strongly market focused approach to creating and sustaining competitive advantage. Particular emphasis is placed on deriving the 20% of factors that will generate 80% of the benefit.
At the same time he makes use of engineering metaphors and parallels in order to identify measurable deliverables for abstract projects. This has lead to the development of project management techniques specifically designed for the management of abstract projects such as I.T. system implementation and Corporate Strategy development and implementation.
Broad Based Network
He was one of the founders of "The MaXus Group" a network of specialist consulting firms with international links in many areas of specialist consultancy and was chairman for a number of years. Over the years, he has forged a diversity of business relationships which enable him to assemble professional teams to undertake cost effective, innovative, projects for leading clients. These links have extended to assembling a team for a major tender submission which included the former Chief of Staff of the US Army and the British Defense Establishment Research Agency.
Drawing on his Civil Engineering background, Dr Robertson has been instrumental in progressively seeking to develop formalized design and contract management methodologies and procedures to apply to the software design and construction and management consulting industries. This has contributed to the development of the StratSnap©, StratProc© StratAction©, SoftXList©, SoftDXList©, SoftBuild© and other techniques.
Factors Giving Rise to I.T. and Strategy Background
Dr Robertson's structured engineering approach to problem solving as well as his military experience have contributed greatly to developing an understanding of the factors giving rise to the 90% level of dissatisfaction with Information Technology and Consulting around the world and the 90% failure rate of strategy implementations.
Overcoming and Avoiding Pitfalls
From this he has developed techniques directed at avoiding and overcoming these pitfalls. This has resulted in Dr Robertson delivering presentations on this subject to conferences and corporations in Europe, the Middle East and locally.
Qualifications and International Recognition
Dr Robertson has a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in Civil Engineering (cum Laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the same University, for which he received a major national award. He has given technical presentations and published papers on more than fifty topics.
Dr Robertson was listed in the Marquis "Who's Who in Science and Engineering" in 1998 and has been listed in "Who's Who in the World", which lists only 60,000 people from all walks of life around the world, from 1999 through to 2003. He has also been selected for listing in the second edition of ?2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century? for 2003. Refer side bar for details.
Well Placed to Assist You
Dr James Robertson PrEng is exceptionally well qualified to assist your organization to create sustainable, profitable competitive advantage through the application of Information Technology and through effective Strategic Planning techniques that work.
