Over many years in the IT profession, Dennis Adams has been involved with numerous small and medium clients, advising on such diverse issues as IT strategy, Migration to new Architectures, Capacity Planning, and Implementation. The following list highlights just some of the projects which were involved. Some of these were done as a permanent employee, the more recent being done on a consultancy basis by Dennis Adams Associates Limited.
To discuss any of the references given below, or review your specific business and technical requirements, feel free to email info@dennisadams.co.uk.
Industry Sector |
Summary |
Details |
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Hosting |
Global Standards |
Initiated Processes to define and maintain Infrastructure Global Standards, as means of ensuring that future projects are supportable in Production at optimal cost. |
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Hosting |
Configuration Management |
Establishment of a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) which is a pre-requisite to establishing appropriate ITIL-based Infrastructure Management Procesess. |
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Insurance |
Production Criteria |
In a previously mainframe-focused environment, as part of a team defining production acceptance criteria for J2EE-based development tools, processes and applications. |
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Software House |
Testing Environment |
Replace previous ad-hoc testing approach for web application, by building a formal Test Approach, Test Plans and Test Scripts and create full Regression Testing Procedures and Environment. |
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Banking |
Business Delivery |
Assist in the transition of an Infrastructure Division from being a "cost centre" to being a "profit centre", effectively becoming an Outsource Provider. |
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Finance |
Strategy Team |
Appointed to create and manage a new IT Production Strategy & Architecture team, responsible for defining IT Production Architecture and Strategy for all elements of Infrastructure, including Servers, Databases, Middleware, Storage. This also required the introduction of a "Production Certification" process and a menu of Approved Technology solutions which IT Production would host and support. |
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Finance |
Monitoring |
Introduction of Pro-Active Database monitoring of multiple systems over multiple geographical locations. Involved not only the introduction of software tools, but also processes and procedures to ensure 24*7 cover. The resulting switch from "fire-fighting" to "pro-active" dba practices resulted in a significant reduction in unplanned out-of-hours callout. |
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Warehousing |
Monitoring Infrastructure |
Advised on the purchase, configuration, deployment and use of pro-active monitoring and code control software. Involved changes to in-house procedures for code quality control, and introduction of improved DBA housekeeping routines. |
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Telecoms |
Code Control |
Deployment of a software tool to implement Source-Code control for Ingres and C code, and build files. This technology saw the replacement of in-house scripts and utilities by a commercial product. |
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Finance |
Lifeboat Project |
Brought in as "lifeboat" project manager for an internal development project experiencing deployment problems. Involved prioritising and actioning break-fix work, whilst at the same time working to build end-user confidence in the solution. |
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Manufacturing |
New System and Datacenter |
Project Managed the introduction of the first in-house computerised system. Included the construction of a new Datacenter, purchase and commissioning of new system and access LAN, installation and rollout of new software, user training etc. |
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Finance |
Clustering |
Implementation of one of the early VAX-VMS clusters (VMS 4.0) using VAX 780/5 and HSC technology. This was one of the first production homegeneous clusters running business-critical applications in the South-East of the UK. |
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