Overview
The past month’s inquiries highlight a strong focus on strategic ICT challenges for senior executives. Governance and value extraction remain top concerns, alongside a renewed interest in artificial intelligence, particularly around its practical application and implications, and a focus on trends indicate a sustained emphasis on burgeoning exploration of AI’s disruptive and transformative potential across various sectors.
Hottest Topics
Topical Inquiries
IBRS has summarised several inquiries that are of interest to many organisations.
Solve
Streamlining Cross-Functional Review Meetings
An Australian infrastructure client needed to improve their cross-functional review meetings, which were becoming bogged down with excessive detail and information sharing. IBRS advised a shift to solution-design mode, focusing discussions on required actions and approvals, using expectation-based processes, and clarifying necessary information upfront to ensure efficient decision-making.
Advisor: David Beal: Log an inquiry with David
Optimising Multi-Technology Patch Management
A federal government institution sought options for single pain of glass, patch management tooling, which brings together bespoke applications patching not managed by Microsoft Intune. After discussing the client’s context, IBRS guided them in refining the requirements and then provided tailored recommendations for a cost-effective, integrated solution to address their specific operational needs.
Advisor: Mark Unwin: Log an inquiry with Mark
Plan
Reviewing an IAM Implementation Strategy RFQ
A shipping and logistics organisation was preparing an RFQ for an identity and access management (IAM) implementation strategy and sought IBRS’s review. IBRS assessed the draft, confirming its suitability for mature suppliers and aligning with team comments, particularly those recommending mandatory inclusion of optional aspects, ensuring a robust and comprehensive procurement process.
Advisor: Mike Mitchelmore: Log an inquiry with Mike
Developing a Project Lessons Learned Framework
A state government agency requested support to establish a new framework for collating, sharing, and leveraging project lessons learned. IBRS provided an inquiry response drawing on Prince2 methodology and the OCG Gateway process, including templates and thought leadership papers, to help the client develop effective project assurance and continuous improvement.
Advisor: Andrew Fox: Log an inquiry with Andrew
Explore
Navigating AI Trends in the Market
A major engineering firm sought a market perspective on AI – what’s working and what isn’t – for its leadership team. IBRS provided a broad discussion on AI types, including generative AI, machine learning, and emerging graph capabilities, clarified the limits of agentic AI, and explored the potential for an ‘AI bubble’, helping senior executives understand the current and evolving landscape. The discussion included brainstorming how AI could be used within specific parts of their business, the economics and potential benefits realisation, and, importantly, when to invest and when to wait for the market to evolve further.
Advisor: Dr Joseph Sweeney: Request a whiteboard session with Joe
Strategic Impact of Low-Code Platforms and AI
A technology industry client inquired about effectively communicating the value of low-code platforms to business decision-makers and C-level executives, and differentiating it strategically. IBRS provided insights on re-framing financial models (TCO/ROI for consumption-based services), debunking ‘vibe coding’ misconceptions, and the role of agentic orchestration over standalone AI, offering a fresh perspective on platform valuation and AI integration.
Advisor: Dr Joseph Sweeney: Log an inquiry with Joe
Trending Topics
Document Reviews Conducted
- Review of AI Investigation Tools Against Police AI Principles
- Briefing Paper Review – Gated Assurance Framework Integration
- Review of IT Steering Committee Governance Framework Revisions
- Government Data Platform Manager Role Description Review
- Review of Cyber Strategy: Pencil Mark-up and Proposed Revisions
Whiteboard Sessions
- Project Management Refinement: Stakeholders gained strategies to address project non-completion, manage scope, and mitigate implementation resistance, improving program delivery.
- Project Overview Session: Established a foundational understanding of the client’s requirements, outlining next steps and successful initial support.
- Project Management Workshop: Consolidated Learnings: Participants gained enhanced understanding and actionable strategies for optimising project management processes.
- Operating Model Refinement Workshop: The collaborative session helped refine the client’s complex operational model proposal, clarifying future project rollout.
- Workflow Optimisation Workshop: Key stakeholders approved the formation of a cross-functional team, based on a newly developed process.
- Project Costing Strategy Whiteboard Session: Clients discussed parametric costing approaches and planned further whiteboard sessions for development with their team.
- Stakeholder Communication Strategy Review: Participants explored unified communications changes and received an advisory report with actionable insights.
- Strategic IT Direction Whiteboard Session: Client gained clarity on IT strategy, skills, and target architecture for 2030, agreeing to further analysis.
- Strategic IT Planning Session: Evaluated IT’s future, identified architectural needs, and skill developments, with a phased approach agreed.
