Software Futures, a wholly owned subsidiary of MGX, has been awarded a contract to enhance the software development processes and build a knowledge management capability of the system within SA's largest medical aid administrator, Medscheme.
According to Medscheme IT general manager, Nicholas Parry, the division's aim is to align with best practices that will ensure controls are in place and projects are driven using consistent project management disciplines.
The Rational Unified Process is a fully integrated toolset that will assist Medscheme Information Technology to obtain control of its software development environment. From previously having disparate tools looking at different pieces of the process, Medscheme Information Technology is now focusing on a set of integrated tools.
"Previously there were many disparate tools and systems, in addition initiatives were not driven off a world-class architectural base," says Parry.
Medscheme will also implement a process of ensuring business involvement in the entire software project and will initiate internal selling to its various business units so that they accept and welcome the complete process.
"In this way, the benefits that we will derive from this process will ensure that the solutions delivered are in line with the business expectations of all the business units within Medscheme," says Parry.
Medscheme IT does not have a direct interface with its external customers, ie those medical aids that are administered by Medscheme, but the services the IT department offers the other business units obviously has a rollover effect on these customers. "If we cannot deliver the right solution at the right speed for these business units, it affects the entire business process of the organisation," says Parry.
"As an IT department, we want to be able to deliver the right things a whole lot quicker and make sure that we continually improve our customer service."
"Software Futures will also play a mentor or consultant role and train resources within Medscheme, consequently accelerating the learning process within the group. One of the roles performed by Software Futures will be to ensure that Medscheme adheres to details and maximises the benefits of utilising the Rational Tool process," says Software Futures, Trevor van Rensburg.
As part of the roll-out, Medscheme's testing strategy is also being addressed. Previously the necessary throughput has not met the needs of the fast changing business environment.
"However, we are not going to step straight away into fully automated testing. We believe that we need to get the basics in place first and make sure that our testers understand all the concepts behind testing disciplines. Only then will we step into automated testing. The tool set is and will be instrumental in addressing this need," says Parry.
"In addition, Software Futures is conducting an audit on the Medscheme Oracle environment. An assessment will be performed on the system detailing its structure and assessing its overall performance. Software Futures will make several recommendations to Medscheme, based on its industry knowledge, says Van Rensburg.
Software Futures is also providing full training to almost 60 software developers within Medscheme IT as part of the software roll-out. "In the longer term, we will strive for internationally recognised certification; using the Rational Toolset will assist us in attaining this," says Parry.
Initial training commenced last month on the Analyst Studio Suite of Tools. Training on the Team Unifying Platform is to begin soon.
"Our intention is to be one of the market leaders within the clinical and financial risk management arena," says Parry.
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Founded in 1971, Medscheme is SA's largest independent health fund manager. It has branches in over 27 locations in the country, and won the 2000 SA Non-Listed Company Award.
Medscheme's clients include many of SA's top 100 companies, as well as small- and medium-sized employers, union workers and state employees. It has a member base of approximately 900 000 families in five countries.
MGX
MGX listed in the Information Technology sector of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1995 and has, during its five-year history as a listed company delivered consistent growth to shareholders. MGX was ranked 8th in the Sunday Times top 100 companies for 2000.
MGX has operations in SA, Botswana, Australia, the UK and the US, and is grouped into five focused strategic business units, which have strong operational and strategic synergies.
The underlying theme to what MGX provides is the existence of business information and the need to manage and deliver that information through all the applications available to business users.
The rapid growth of the "information age" has resulted in an enormous amount of information in constant circulation, and the challenge is to help businesses make decisions and act swiftly on that information, in order to be successful in their chosen markets. This is what MGX means by Information-Rich Business Solutions. To deliver Information-Rich Business Solutions, MGX has created a group of companies that can create and implement effective solutions to business users in any sector or industry, anywhere in the world.
MGX's ability to deliver centres around its core competencies, its dedication to innovation, its commitment to attract and retain the best talent in the industry who are passionate about what they do and its fierce focus on customer needs. For more information, visit www.mgxgroup.com.
Software Futures
The software development business of MGX is SA's leader in the application of best practices for software development.
With a staff of 500, it is one of the largest and most successful development teams in SA, and enjoys a strong leadership position in component-based development and global best practices.
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