ADVISICON Project Management Office Development and Microsoft® SharePoint Services
CASE STUDY
Pfizer, Inc. — Business Technology |
Abstract
Pfizer Business Technology (BT) needed to have better document control and integration for project success. With widespread PMO offices, a centralized location was critical to ensure necessary requirements and approvals through multiple document iterations. Advisicon implemented a unique authorization process based on Microsoft® SharePoint® technology including a proprietary site to ensure accurate versioning and control. With a single site for registering required paperwork, dissemination of information and communication was greatly improved, reducing redundancy and lost resources.
Pfizer
Pfizer is the world's largest research-based biomedical and pharmaceutical company. With corporate headquarters located in New York, its major research and development locations are also based in the United States and England. The Pfizer Business Technology (BT) Unit is located in Mexico and is responsible for the design, development and maintenance of all internal IT projects that address different needs in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Responsibilities include applications, portals, web pages and all other intra-company technology requirements. |
| BUSINESS SITUATION |
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most critical sectors where time-to-market can mean the difference between product success and failure. After years of research, being able to get a product into the hands of the consumer quickly and with support of the medical community, is a crucial component to creating a long-term product in the company’s portfolio.
Because the development and research of new pharmaceuticals is so essential, Pfizer BT launched an initiative to start a PMO for the control of internal projects. They needed a technological platform to support their project management processes. Key considerations for Pfizer BT included:
- Lack of integration with the latest version of Microsoft Project Server® and PMO’s located around the world
- Corporate control initiated remotely from the regions from where the PMO’s were established
- Creating a central repository through Microsoft Project Professional® for controlling document approval and registering required paperwork
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| SOLUTION DELIVERED |
| Upon review by Advisicon, a unique solution to Pfizer’s problem was implemented. Advisicon developed an authorization process based on Microsoft SharePoint workflows in order to restrict the project plans that Project Server can accept for publishing. Additionally, it required that
documents be registered in a special SharePoint site where they could be reviewed, approved and rejected.
By developing a systemized, controlled process for documentation, Pfizer now had a very powerful platform where all projects managers could publish their projects, control the key documentation and share findings across the enterprise. This resulted in a more efficient workflow, eliminating lost time and effort in communicating and sharing information. |
| BENEFITS |
Once the system was implemented, Pfizer BT began to see results with all internal resources associated with the process. Benefits included:
- Control of project administration and versioning through standardized procedures
- Integrated information and technology platforms designed to provide access and accuracy to the status of current projects
- Efficiency in collaboration and communication across the organization
- Increased resource management
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| SOFTWARE AND SERVICES |
- Microsoft® Project Server 2007
- Microsoft® Project Professional 2007
- Microsoft® Windows SharePoint Services
- Microsoft® SharePoint Designer and Visual Studio 2005
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USERS |
- Project managers
- Business technology PMOs
- Project resources
- Executives
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