Testimonials
Those who made the following comments * - and many others like them - were experts in their own line of work and well aware of shortcomings in the way that their organisations operated. These shortcomings were not overcome through large-scale projects undertaken by professional business systems consultants, but by individuals - mostly without prior business or computer systems analysis experience. * Note: originals available for inspection, on request.
"In seventeen years of I.T. business services, I have never seen nor used a method, paradigm nor business solution as effective, conclusive and sorry, simple, as the PISO method."
Graeme Lupton - employed by IBM, Rank Xerox and consultant to North East Powder Coatings
"The PISO result is a model that has the potential to realise improvements identified in the strategic aims of the organisation and is in line with a move towards better access to information by clinicians. The approach also has the important benefits of helping staff throughout the organisation to gain a better understanding of their role within it and where it is heading."
Brenda Peppin, North Durham Health Care NHS Trust
"The PISO approach has encouraged all involved to tackle the problem of recording and designing training within our organisation, confidently."
Anthony Steele, Tyne & Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade
"I think the most important aspect of PISO is its flexibility. The approach can be applied to any process, not only administrative. The technique provides multiple solutions that can then be discussed with stakeholders to decide which is most acceptable."
Sean Stephenson, Freeman Hospital
"The main objectives of the redesign were easily met. My own personal gain has been the ability to take apart a process system and then streamline and reconstruct it into a more user friendly and efficient system."
Martin McTavy, ViaSystems
"PISO has taught me how to look logically at a problem. It makes areas of wasted time leap out and demand attention. I have learned to look at many areas of my 'business'. To be quite honest, there is room for improvement in nearly all of it. Prior to this analysis I thought everything ran well!"
Carl Latimer, Tyne & Wear Fire Brigade
"PISO ensures commitment to change because key stakeholders have been involved in the process and can 'sign up' to the proposed changes. Problems are often complex and PISO, utilising SSADM techniques, enables clear communication of the current process and modelling of the proposed solution. Management of stakeholder expectations and relationships is key to any change management and PISO recognises this where other methodologies do not."
Bill Maher, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust
"Should I be in the position to be involved in any further restructuring at work, I would certainly recommend that we follow the PISO method as it is more detailed and leaves less to chance than our method. My manager and I have again looked at the process although it had already been altered, and agree that these methods are much more effective. Boundaries of the process are more specific and the PISO steps follow a natural progression towards achieving strategic objectives. I cannot see anything lacking in the PISO method. I have learned that dfds are invaluable in identifying a process and am amazed at how easy they are to set up and use. Thank you!"
Philipa Ellis, Benefits Agency
"PISO has proven that no matter how effective a system might be, it could be made more effective. From my experience in using PISO it has highlighted that for any organisation to improve it must always look at the systems that run within it. PISO is a must for any organisation that strives to succeed in this competitive world."
Andrea Irving, Teachers Assurance
"PISO adds one important factor to the systems analysis approach - the injection of the 'strategic objective'. This converts what is a useful tool into a powerful force for change that finds a natural home in systems engineering."
Leslie Perry, Gateshead Health NHS Trust
"PISO has opened our minds to possible new means of solving problems. With regard to any areas of PISO being lacking or superfluous, the answer is a resounding NO. PISO has opened my eyes, and those of my colleagues at CCS, as to where systems analysis can take business."
Malcolm Etchells, CCS Mobile Phone World
"PISO was well suited to this task. I strongly believe that PISO can be regarded as a layman's tool. Simply taking things to pieces and graphically showing how they work provides a great understanding - only by seeing the problem can we hope to fix it correctly. This has been a great lesson for me, not only in Business Systems Analysis but also in self development."
Nigel Dodds, City of Durham Council
"PISO proved to be effective in persuading original thoughts to be changed. Once conflict had been resolved and the new process was outlined, the new dfd showed management that this process was the most beneficial. PISO also detailed all stakeholders concerned, and therefore communication could be carried out effectively."
Julie Iley, Corning
"There is no doubt that the application of PISO has simplified the process. When you look at a system it is quite easy to become so embroiled in it that you do not question its strategic objective, but instead merely how to ensure that the elements within it work effectively. The planning of finance departments is an excellent example. Simply because they were in the current system they remained after logicalisation. Only when the strategic element was introduced was their presence questioned."
Tom Johnson, Caterpillar Stockton
"Although I was not able to use PISO to reduce the system's complexities, I did find it useful to enable me to see the project appraisal system in it's entirety. It may take a while for all to reap the benefits, however initial findings have proved that all new projects that have followed the system have had their project appraised and approved within a matter of a few weeks. It is a more structured, step-by-step process, more user-friendly, whilst still encompassing all bureaucratic criteria set out by the Government Office for the North East."
Maria Fairley, Sunderland City Council
"The PISO method has been used in conjunction with the actual reorganisation of alpha operations areas within the Child Benefit Centre. The current structure in general is fairly logical but efficiencies will be made and employees will be better resourced. Once the change has been made the strategic objectives will have been met, and the PISO method will have been seen to be effective."
Joanne Anderson, Child Benefit Agency
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