A systems integrator is a unique animal that finds pleasure in connecting unlike systems to produce a system or solution of superior functionality.
What is a Systems Integrator?
Often multi-disciplined, an Integrator should demonstrate superior expertise in particular chosen technologies and often employ carefully developed processes and approaches to implementation and design. It is this systems’ engineering approach and capability that often differentiates an Integrator from product suppliers and consultants.
The inputs include the outputs
Good design starts with the end in mind. Of course, clear requirements are paramount to building the right infrastructure, but what we don’t always do naturally is set up criteria for measuring the performance of what is delivered. The end result should also be built upon clearly defined objectives; objectives, which should have been cost justified and explained in a business case or design brief. Setting high performance requirements which are over and above the basis of the core design, is also a trap to be avoided. This can be seen in design requirements that have conflicting interests. For example, as system may specify high availability but fail to specify system availability. Extending this concept further, system availability may be specified but there may not be budget or resources set aside to conduct Reliability, Availability and Maintainability studies at the outset.
To empower a service provider to become a part of the solution, they need to be a part of the objective based outcomes. The review process should be founded on regular checks of the key indicators built on these mutually agreed client objectives. The objectives are more important to the success of any integration exercise than the project specification itself and they should influence decisions made throughout the entire project life cycle.
What is the most appropriate engagement model for systems integrators? Ethical Systems Integrators survive by performing certain processes efficiently over and over. Those processes may be business processes that ultimately manage an engineering task. What occurs by performing according to the well-established process is predictability for all parties involved. If engineers “show up” engaged under body hire arrangements, then they fully rely on the customers engineering management practices and governance to drive the results. There could be a conflict of interest here which most service provides would dare not mention. Essentially this model transfers the responsibility for outcomes back to the customer. This may be suitable for certain “find out” or investigation elements of consultancy, but in terms of turnkey delivery this should not be necessary if the requirements are solid and agreeable.
What does a System Integrator expect?
When projects are scoped and costed, unless otherwise specified, it is normal practice to only expect to perform a task once. This means Systems Integrators will expect the following:
